Legislative branch:unicameral Parliament or Riksdag (349 seats; members are elected bypopular vote on a proportional representation basis to servefour-year terms)elections: last held 15 September 2002 (next to be held September2006)election results: percent of vote by party - Social Democrats 39.8%,Moderates 15.2%, Liberal Party 13.3%, Christian Democrats 9.1%, LeftParty 8.3%, Center Party 6.1%, Greens 4.6%; seats by party - SocialDemocrats 144, Moderates 55, Liberal Party 48, Christian Democrats33, Left Party 30, Center Party 22, Greens 17
Judicial branch:Supreme Court or Hogsta Domstolen (judges are appointed by theprime minister and the cabinet)
Political parties and leaders:Center Party [Maud OLOFSSON]; Christian Democratic Party [GoranHAGGLUND]; Green Party [no formal leader but party spokespersons areMaria WETTERSTRAND and Peter ERIKSSON]; Left Party or V (formerlyCommunist) [Lars OHLY]; Liberal People's Party [Lars LEIJONBORG];Moderate Party (conservative) [Fredrik REINFELDT]; Social DemocraticParty [Goran PERSSON]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB,ESA, EU, FAO, G- 6, G- 9, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt,ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MONUC, NAM (guest), NC, NEA,NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP,UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIK,UNMIL, UNMISET, UNMOGIP, UNOMIG, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WEU (observer),WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jan ELIASSON chancery: 1501 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20005-1702 telephone: [1] (202) 467-2600 FAX: [1] (202) 467-2699 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador M. Teel BIVINS embassy: Dag Hammarskjolds VAG 31, SE-11589 Stockholm mailing address: American Embassy Stockholm, Department of State, 5750 Stockholm Place, Washington, DC 20521-5750 (pouch) telephone: [46] (08) 783 53 00 FAX: [46] (08) 661 19 64
Flag description:blue with a golden yellow cross extending to the edges of the flag;the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in thestyle of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)
Economy Sweden
Economy - overview:Aided by peace and neutrality for the whole 20th century, Swedenhas achieved an enviable standard of living under a mixed system ofhigh-tech capitalism and extensive welfare benefits. It has a moderndistribution system, excellent internal and external communications,and a skilled labor force. Timber, hydropower, and iron oreconstitute the resource base of an economy heavily oriented towardforeign trade. Privately owned firms account for about 90% ofindustrial output, of which the engineering sector accounts for 50%of output and exports. Agriculture accounts for only 2% of GDP and2% of the jobs. The government's commitment to fiscal disciplineresulted in a substantial budgetary surplus in 2001, which was cutby more than half in 2002, due to the global economic slowdown,declining revenue, and increased spending. The Swedish central bank(the Riksbank) focuses on price stability with its inflation targetof 2%. Growth remained sluggish in 2003, but picked up in 2004.Presumably because of generous sicktime benefits, Swedish workersreport in sick more often than other Europeans. On 14 September2003, Swedish voters turned down entry into the euro system,concerned about the impact on democracy and sovereignty.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$255.4 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:3.6% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $28,400 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 2% industry: 29% services: 69% (2001)
Labor force:4.46 million (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 2%, industry 24%, services 74% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:5.6% (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.7% highest 10%: 20.1% (1992)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:25 (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):0.7% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):15.8% of GDP (2004 est.)
Budget:revenues: $201.3 billionexpenditures: $199.6 billion, including capital expenditures of NA(2004 est.)
Public debt:51.6% of GDP (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:barley, wheat, sugar beets; meat, milk
Industries:iron and steel, precision equipment (bearings, radio and telephoneparts, armaments), wood pulp and paper products, processed foods,motor vehicles
Industrial production growth rate:5.5% (2004 est.)
Electricity - production:142.8 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 4% hydro: 50.8% nuclear: 43% other: 2.3% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:138.1 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:14.8 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:20.1 billion kWh (2002)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:328,600 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:203,700 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:553,100 bbl/day (2001)
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:949 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:968 million cu m (2001 est.)
Current account balance:$24.08 billion (2004 est.)
Exports:$121.7 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:machinery 35%, motor vehicles, paper products, pulp and wood, ironand steel products, chemicals
Exports - partners:US 10.7%, Germany 10.2%, Norway 8.6%, UK 7.8%, Denmark 6.7%,Finland 5.7%, France 4.8%, Netherlands 4.8%, Belgium 4.5% (2004)
Imports:$97.97 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, motorvehicles, iron and steel; foodstuffs, clothing
Imports - partners:Germany 18.7%, Denmark 9.2%, Norway 7.6%, UK 7.5%, Netherlands6.8%, Finland 6.4%, France 5.5%, Belgium 4% (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$19.99 billion (2003)
Debt - external:$66.5 billion (1994)
Economic aid - donor:ODA, $1.7 billion (1997)
Currency (code):Swedish krona (SEK)
Currency code:SEK
Exchange rates:Swedish kronor per US dollar - 7.3489 (2004), 8.0863 (2003), 9.7371(2002), 10.3291 (2001), 9.1622 (2000)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Sweden
Telephones - main lines in use:6,579,200 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:7.949 million (2002)
Telephone system:general assessment: excellent domestic and internationalfacilities; automatic systemdomestic: coaxial and multiconductor cables carry most of the voicetraffic; parallel microwave radio relay systems carry someadditional telephone channelsinternational: country code - 46; 5 submarine coaxial cables;satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Eutelsat,and 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions); note - Swedenshares the Inmarsat earth station with the other Nordic countries(Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and Norway)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 1, FM 265, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:8.25 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:169 (plus 1,299 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:4.6 million (1997)
Internet country code:.se
Internet hosts:945,221 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):29 (2000)
Internet users:5.125 million (2002)
Transportation Sweden
Railways: total: 11,481 km standard gauge: 11,481 km 1.435-m gauge (9,400 km electrified) (2004)
Highways:total: 213,237 kmpaved: 167,604 km (including 1,542 km of expressways)unpaved: 45,633 km (2002)
Pipelines:gas 798 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Goteborg, Helsingborg, Karlshamn, Lulea, Malmo, Oxelosund,Stenungsund, Stockholm, Trelleborg
Merchant marine:total: 205 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 2,702,763 GRT/1,884,570 DWTby type: bulk carrier 6, cargo 33, chemical tanker 51, passenger 4,passenger/cargo 37, petroleum tanker 14, roll on/roll off 37,specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 22foreign-owned: 42 (Belgium 2, Denmark 4, Finland 11, Germany 6,Italy 7, Japan 2, Netherlands 1, Norway 9)registered in other countries: 155 (2005)
Airports:254 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 154 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 12 1,524 to 2,437 m: 82 914 to 1,523 m: 22 under 914 m: 35 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 100 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 90 (2004 est.)
Heliports: 2 (2004 est.)
Military Sweden
Military branches:Army, Royal Swedish Navy (RSwN), Air Force (Flygvapnet)
Military service age and obligation: 19 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 7-17 months depending on conscript role; after completing initial service soldiers have a reserve commitment until the age of 47 (2004)
Manpower available for military service:males age 19-49: 1,838,427 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 19-49: 1,493,668 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males: 58,724 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$5.729 billion (2004)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.7% (2004)
Transnational Issues Sweden
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Switzerland
Introduction Switzerland
Background:The Swiss Confederation was founded in 1291 as a defensive allianceamong three cantons. In succeeding years, other localities joinedthe original three. The Swiss Confederation secured its independencefrom the Holy Roman Empire in 1499. Switzerland's sovreignty andneutrality have long been honored by the major European powers, andthe country was not involved in either of the two World Wars. Thepolitical and economic integration of Europe over the past halfcentury, as well as Switzerland's role in many UN and internationalorganizations, has strengthened Switzerland's ties with itsneighbors. However, the country did not officially become a UNmember until 2002. Switzerland remains active in many UN andinternational organizations, but retains a strong commitment toneutrality.
Geography Switzerland
Location:Central Europe, east of France, north of Italy
Geographic coordinates:47 00 N, 8 00 E
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 41,290 sq kmland: 39,770 sq kmwater: 1,520 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey
Land boundaries:total: 1,852 kmborder countries: Austria 164 km, France 573 km, Italy 740 km,Liechtenstein 41 km, Germany 334 km
Coastline:0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:none (landlocked)
Climate:temperate, but varies with altitude; cold, cloudy, rainy/snowywinters; cool to warm, cloudy, humid summers with occasional showers
Terrain:mostly mountains (Alps in south, Jura in northwest) with a centralplateau of rolling hills, plains, and large lakes
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Lake Maggiore 195 mhighest point: Dufourspitze 4,634 m
Natural resources:hydropower potential, timber, salt
Land use: arable land: 10.42% permanent crops: 0.61% other: 88.97% (2001)
Irrigated land:250 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:avalanches, landslides, flash floods
Environment - current issues:air pollution from vehicle emissions and open-air burning; acidrain; water pollution from increased use of agriculturalfertilizers; loss of biodiversity
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, AirPollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85,Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, EnvironmentalModification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine LifeConservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, TropicalTimber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whalingsigned, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:landlocked; crossroads of northern and southern Europe; along withsoutheastern France, northern Italy, and southwestern Austria, hasthe highest elevations in the Alps
People Switzerland
Population:7,489,370 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 16.6% (male 643,497/female 597,565)15-64 years: 68% (male 2,570,544/female 2,522,365)65 years and over: 15.4% (male 472,769/female 682,630) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 39.77 yearsmale: 38.75 yearsfemale: 40.81 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:0.49% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:9.77 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:8.48 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:3.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 4.39 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 4.9 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 3.86 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 80.39 yearsmale: 77.58 yearsfemale: 83.36 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.42 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.4% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:13,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 100 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Swiss (singular and plural)adjective: Swiss
Ethnic groups:German 65%, French 18%, Italian 10%, Romansch 1%, other 6%
Religions:Roman Catholic 41.8%, Protestant 35.3%, Orthodox 1.8%, otherChristian 0.4%, Muslim 4.3%, other 1%, unspecified 4.3%, none 11.1%(2000 census)
Languages:German (official) 63.7%, French (official) 20.4%, Italian(official) 6.5%, Serbo-Croatian 1.5%, Albanian 1.3%, Portuguese1.2%, Spanish 1.1%, English 1%, Romansch 0.5%, other 2.8% (2000census)note: German, French, Italian, and Romansch are all nationallanguages, but only the first three are official languages
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99% (1980 est.)male: NA%female: NA%
Government Switzerland
Country name:conventional long form: Swiss Confederationconventional short form: Switzerlandlocal long form: Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft (German),Confederation Suisse (French), Confederazione Svizzera (Italian)local short form: Schweiz (German), Suisse (French), Svizzera(Italian)
Government type:formally a confederation, but similar in structure to a federalrepublic
Capital:Bern
Administrative divisions:26 cantons (cantons, singular - canton in French; cantoni, singular- cantone in Italian; kantone, singular - kanton in German); Aargau,Appenzell Ausser-Rhoden, Appenzell Inner-Rhoden, Basel-Landschaft,Basel-Stadt, Bern, Fribourg, Geneve, Glarus, Graubunden, Jura,Luzern, Neuchatel, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Sankt Gallen, Schaffhausen,Schwyz, Solothurn, Thurgau, Ticino, Uri, Valais, Vaud, Zug, Zurich
Independence:1 August 1291 (founding of the Swiss Confederation)
National holiday:Founding of the Swiss Confederation, 1 August (1291)
Constitution:revision of Constitution of 1874 approved by the Federal Parliament18 December 1998, adopted by referendum 18 April 1999, officiallyentered into force 1 January 2000
Legal system:civil law system influenced by customary law; judicial review oflegislative acts, except with respect to federal decrees of generalobligatory character; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, withreservations
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Samuel SCHMID (since 1 January 2005);Vice President Moritz LEUENBERGER (since 1 January 2005); note - thepresident is both the chief of state and head of governmenthead of government: President Samuel SCHMID (since 1 January 2005);Vice President Moritz LEUENBERGER (since 1 January 2005); note - thepresident is both the chief of state and head of governmentcabinet: Federal Council or Bundesrat (in German), Conseil Federal(in French), Consiglio Federale (in Italian) elected by the FederalAssembly usually from among its own members for a four-year termelections: president and vice president elected by the FederalAssembly from among the members of the Federal Council for one-yearterms that run concurrently; election last held 8 December 2004(next to be held December 2005)election results: Samuel SCHMID elected president; percent ofFederal Assembly vote - 70.7%; Moritz LEUENBERGER elected vicepresident; percent of legislative vote - 64.8%
Legislative branch:bicameral Federal Assembly or Bundesversammlung (in German),Assemblee Federale (in French), Assemblea Federale (in Italian)consists of the Council of States or Standerat (in German), Conseildes Etats (in French), Consiglio degli Stati (in Italian) (46 seats- members serve four-year terms) and the National Council orNationalrat (in German), Conseil National (in French), ConsiglioNazionale (in Italian) (200 seats - members are elected by popularvote on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-yearterms)elections: Council of States - last held in most cantons 19 October2003 (each canton determines when the next election will be held);National Council - last held 19 October 2003 (next to be heldOctober 2007)election results: Council of States - percent of vote by party -NA%; seats by party - CVP 15, FDP 14, SVP 8, SPS 6, other 3;National Council - percent of vote by party - SVP 26.6%, SPS 23.3%,FDP 17.3%, CVP 14.4%, Greens 7.4%, other small parties all under 5%;seats by party - SVP 55, SPS 54, FDP 36, CVP 28, Green Party 13,other small parties 14
Judicial branch:Federal Supreme Court (judges elected for six-year terms by theFederal Assembly)
Political parties and leaders:Green Party (Grune Partei der Schweiz or Grune, Parti EcologisteSuisse or Les Verts, Partito Ecologista Svizzero or I Verdi, PartidaEcologica Svizra or La Verda) [Ruth GENNER]; Christian DemocraticPeople's Party (Christichdemokratische Volkspartei der Schweiz orCVP, Parti Democrate-Chretien Suisse or PDC, PartitoDemocratico-Cristiano Popolare Svizzero or PDC, PartidaCristiandemocratica dalla Svizra or PCD) [Doris LEUTHARD,president]; Radical Free Democratic Party (Freisinnig-DemokratischePartei der Schweiz or FDP, Parti Radical-Democratique Suisse or PRD,Partitio Liberal-Radicale Svizzero or PLR) [MarianneKLEINER-SCHLAEPFER, president]; Social Democratic Party(Sozialdemokratische Partei der Schweiz or SPS, Parti SocialistSuisse or PSS, Partito Socialista Svizzero or PSS, PartidaSocialdemocratica de la Svizra or PSS) [Hans-Juerg FEHR, president];Swiss People's Party (Schweizerische Volkspartei or SVP, UnionDemocratique du Centre or UDC, Unione Democratica de Centro or UDC,Uniun Democratica dal Center or UDC) [Ueli MAURER, president]; andother minor parties
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACCT, AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EFTA,ESA, FAO, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU,LAIA (observer), MIGA, MONUC, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer),OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIK, UNOMIG, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO,WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Christian BLICKENSTORFERchancery: 2900 Cathedral Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone: [1] (202) 745-7900FAX: [1] (202) 387-2564consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, NewYork, and San Franciscoconsulate(s): Boston
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Pamela P. WILLEFORD embassy: Jubilaumsstrasse 93, CH-3005 Bern mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [41] (031) 357 70 11 FAX: [41] (031) 357 73 44
Flag description:red square with a bold, equilateral white cross in the center thatdoes not extend to the edges of the flag
Economy Switzerland
Economy - overview:Switzerland is a peaceful, prosperous, and stable modern marketeconomy with low unemployment, a highly skilled labor force, and aper capita GDP larger than that of the big Western Europeaneconomies. The Swiss in recent years have brought their economicpractices largely into conformity with the EU's to enhance theirinternational competitiveness. Switzerland remains a safe haven forinvestors, because it has maintained a degree of bank secrecy andhas kept up the franc's long-term external value. Reflecting theanemic economic conditions of Europe, GDP growth dropped in 2001 toabout 0.8%, to 0.2% in 2002, and to -0.3% in 2003, with a small riseto 1.8% in 2004. Even so, unemployment has remained at less thanhalf the EU average.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$251.9 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:1.8% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $33,800 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 1.5% industry: 34% services: 64.5% (2003 est.)
Labor force:3.77 million (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 4.6%, industry 26.3%, services 69.1% (1998)
Unemployment rate:3.4% (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.6% highest 10%: 25.2% (1992)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:33.1 (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):0.9% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):20.4% of GDP (2004 est.)
Budget:revenues: $131.5 billionexpenditures: $140.4 billion, including capital expenditures of NA(2004 est.)
Public debt:57.2% of GDP (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:grains, fruits, vegetables; meat, eggs
Industries:machinery, chemicals, watches, textiles, precision instruments
Industrial production growth rate:4.7% (2004 est.)
Electricity - production:63.47 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 1.3% hydro: 59.5% nuclear: 37.1% other: 2% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:54.53 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:32.3 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:27.8 billion kWh (2002)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:290,400 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:10,420 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:289,500 bbl/day (2001)
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:3.093 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:3.093 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Current account balance:$40.95 billion (2004 est.)
Exports:$130.7 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:machinery, chemicals, metals, watches, agricultural products
Exports - partners:Germany 20.2%, US 10.5%, France 8.7%, Italy 8.3%, UK 5.1%, Spain 4%(2004)
Imports:$121.1 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery, chemicals, vehicles, metals; agricultural products,textiles
Imports - partners:Germany 32.8%, Italy 11.3%, France 9.9%, US 5.2%, Netherlands 5%,Austria 4.3% (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$69.58 billion (2003)
Debt - external:$NA (2000)
Economic aid - donor:ODA, $1.1 billion (1995)
Currency (code):Swiss franc (CHF)
Currency code:CHF
Exchange rates:Swiss francs per US dollar - 1.2435 (2004), 1.3467 (2003), 1.5586(2002), 1.6876 (2001), 1.6888 (2000)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Switzerland
Telephones - main lines in use:5.419 million (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:6.172 million (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: excellent domestic and international servicesdomestic: extensive cable and microwave radio relay networksinternational: country code - 41; satellite earth stations - 2Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 4, FM 113 (plus many low power stations), shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios:7.1 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:115 (plus 1,919 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:3.31 million (1997)
Internet country code:.ch
Internet hosts:667,275 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):44 (Switzerland and Liechtenstein) (2000)
Internet users:2.556 million (2002)
Transportation Switzerland
Railways:total: 4,527 kmstandard gauge: 3,232 km 1.435-m gauge (3,211 km electrified)narrow gauge: 1,285 km 1.000-m gauge (1,273 km electrified); 10 km0.800-m gauge (10 km electrified) (2004)
Highways:total: 71,212 kmpaved: 71,212 km (including 1,706 of expressways)unpaved: 0 km (2002)
Waterways:65 kmnote: Rhine River between Basel-Rheinfelden andSchaffhausen-Bodensee, some canals, and 12 navigable lakes (2003)
Pipelines:gas 1,831 km; oil 94 km; refined products 7 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Basel
Merchant marine:total: 23 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 604,843 GRT/1,050,914 DWTby type: bulk carrier 12, cargo 6, chemical tanker 2, container 3foreign-owned: 6 (United Kingdom 6)registered in other countries: 291 (2005)
Airports:65 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 42 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 16 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 23 under 914 m: 23 (2004 est.)
Heliports: 2 (2004 est.)
Military Switzerland
Military branches:Land Forces, Swiss Air Force (Schweizer Luftwaffe)
Military service age and obligation: the Swiss Confederation states that "every Swiss male is obligated to do military service"; every Swiss male has to serve for at least 260 days in the armed forces; 19 years of age for compulsory military service; 17 years of age for voluntary military service; conscripts receive 15 weeks of compulsory training, followed by 10 intermittent recalls for training over the next 22 years; women are accepted on a voluntary basis, but are not drafted (2005)
Manpower available for military service:males age 19-49: 1,707,694 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 19-49: 1,375,889 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males: 46,319 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$2.548 billion (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1% (FY01)
Transnational Issues Switzerland
Disputes - international:none
Illicit drugs:a major international financial center vulnerable to the layeringand integration stages of money laundering; despite significantlegislation and reporting requirements, secrecy rules persist andnonresidents are permitted to conduct business through offshoreentities and various intermediaries; transit country for andconsumer of South American cocaine and Southwest Asian heroin
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Syria
Introduction Syria
Background:Following the breakup of the Ottoman Empire during World War I,Syria was administered by the French until independence in 1946. Inthe 1967 Arab-Israeli War, Syria lost the Golan Heights to Israel.Syrian troops - stationed in Lebanon since 1976 in an ostensiblepeacekeeping role - were withdrawn in April of 2005. Over the pastdecade, Syria and Israel have held occasional peace talks over thereturn of the Golan Heights.
Geography Syria
Location:Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Lebanon andTurkey
Geographic coordinates:35 00 N, 38 00 E
Map references:Middle East
Area:total: 185,180 sq kmland: 184,050 sq kmwater: 1,130 sq kmnote: includes 1,295 sq km of Israeli-occupied territory
Area - comparative:slightly larger than North Dakota
Land boundaries:total: 2,253 kmborder countries: Iraq 605 km, Israel 76 km, Jordan 375 km, Lebanon375 km, Turkey 822 km
Coastline:193 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmcontiguous zone: 41 nm
Climate:mostly desert; hot, dry, sunny summers (June to August) and mild,rainy winters (December to February) along coast; cold weather withsnow or sleet periodically in Damascus
Terrain:primarily semiarid and desert plateau; narrow coastal plain;mountains in west
Elevation extremes:lowest point: unnamed location near Lake Tiberias -200 mhighest point: Mount Hermon 2,814 m
Natural resources:petroleum, phosphates, chrome and manganese ores, asphalt, ironore, rock salt, marble, gypsum, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 25.22% permanent crops: 4.43% other: 70.35% (2001)
Irrigated land:12,130 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:dust storms, sandstorms
Environment - current issues:deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; waterpollution from raw sewage and petroleum refining wastes; inadequatepotable water
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
Geography - note:there are 42 Israeli settlements and civilian land use sites in theIsraeli-occupied Golan Heights (February 2002 est.)
People Syria
Population:18,448,752note: in addition, about 40,000 people live in the Israeli-occupiedGolan Heights - 20,000 Arabs (18,000 Druze and 2,000 Alawites) andabout 20,000 Israeli settlers (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 37.4% (male 3,556,795/female 3,350,267)15-64 years: 59.3% (male 5,601,971/female 5,333,799)65 years and over: 3.3% (male 288,868/female 317,052) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 20.37 yearsmale: 20.24 yearsfemale: 20.51 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:2.34% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:28.29 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:4.88 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.06 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 29.53 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 29.76 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 29.28 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 70.03 yearsmale: 68.75 yearsfemale: 71.38 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:3.5 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:less than 500 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 200 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Syrian(s)adjective: Syrian
Ethnic groups:Arab 90.3%, Kurds, Armenians, and other 9.7%
Religions:Sunni Muslim 74%, Alawite, Druze, and other Muslim sects 16%,Christian (various sects) 10%, Jewish (tiny communities in Damascus,Al Qamishli, and Aleppo)
Languages:Arabic (official); Kurdish, Armenian, Aramaic, Circassian widelyunderstood; French, English somewhat understood
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 76.9%male: 89.7%female: 64% (2003 est.)
Government Syria
Country name:conventional long form: Syrian Arab Republicconventional short form: Syrialocal long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Arabiyah as Suriyahlocal short form: Suriyahformer: United Arab Republic (with Egypt)
Government type:republic under military regime since March 1963
Capital:Damascus
Administrative divisions:14 provinces (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Hasakah, AlLadhiqiyah, Al Qunaytirah, Ar Raqqah, As Suwayda', Dar'a, Dayr azZawr, Dimashq, Halab, Hamah, Hims, Idlib, Rif Dimashq, Tartus
Independence:17 April 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under Frenchadministration)
National holiday:Independence Day, 17 April (1946)
Constitution:13 March 1973
Legal system:based on Islamic law and civil law system; special religiouscourts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Bashar al-ASAD (since 17 July 2000); VicePresidents Abd al-Halim ibn Said KHADDAM (since 11 March 1984) andMuhammad Zuhayr MASHARIQA (since 11 March 1984)head of government: Prime Minister Muhammad Naji al-UTRI (since 10September 2003)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the presidentelections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term;referendum/election last held 10 July 2000 - after the death ofPresident Hafiz al-ASAD, father of Bashar al-ASAD - (next to be held2007); vice presidents appointed by the president; prime ministerand deputy prime ministers appointed by the presidentelection results: Bashar al-ASAD elected president; percent of vote- Bashar al-ASAD 97.29%note: Hafiz al-ASAD died on 10 June 2000; on 20 June 2000, the Ba'thParty nominated Bashar al-ASAD for president and presented his nameto the People's Council on 25 June 2000
Legislative branch:unicameral People's Council or Majlis al-Shaab (250 seats; memberselected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)elections: last held 2-3 March 2003 (next to be held NA 2007)election results: percent of vote by party - NPF 67%, independents33%; seats by party - NPF 167, independents 83; note - theconstitution guarantees that the Ba'th Party (part of the NPFalliance) receives one-half of the seats
Judicial branch:Supreme Constitutional Court (justices are appointed for four-yearterms by the president); High Judicial Council; Court of Cassation;State Security Courts
Political parties and leaders:Arab Socialist Unionist Movement [Ahmed al-AHMED]; NationalProgressive Front or NPF (includes Arab Socialist Renaissance(Ba'th) Party; the governing party) [President Bashar al-ASAD,secretary general]; Socialist Unionist Democratic Party [FadlallalNasr Al-DIN]; Syrian Arab Socialist Party or ASP [Safwan QUDSI];Syrian Communist Party (two branches) [Wissal Farha BAKDASH, YuusufRashid FAYSAL]; Syrian Social National Party [Jubran URAYJI];Unionist Socialist Party [Fayez ISMAIL]
Political pressure groups and leaders:conservative religious leaders; Kurdish Democratic Alliance [leaderNA]; Kurdish Democratic Front [leader NA]; Muslim Brotherhood(operates in exile in London) [Ali Badr Eddine al-BAYANOUNI];National Democratic Front [Hassan Abd al-AZIM]
International organization participation:ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, CAEU, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF,IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, UN,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNRWA, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Imad MUSTAFAchancery: 2215 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone: [1] (202) 232-6313FAX: [1] (202) 234-9548
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Margaret SCOBEY embassy: Abou Roumaneh, Al-Mansur Street, No. 2, Damascus mailing address: P. O. Box 29, Damascus telephone: [963] (11) 333-1342 FAX: [963] (11) 331-9678
Flag description:three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black, colorsassociated with the Arab Liberation flag; two small greenfive-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in the white band;former flag of the United Arab Republic where the two starsrepresented the constituent states of Syria and Egypt; similar tothe flag of Yemen, which has a plain white band, Iraq, which hasthree green stars (plus an Arabic inscription) in a horizontal linecentered in the white band, and that of Egypt, which has a goldEagle of Saladin centered in the white band; the current designdates to 1980
Economy Syria
Economy - overview:Real GDP growth rose to 2.3 percent in 2004, a slight increase from2003 when the predominantly statist economy suffered fromdisruptions caused by the war in Iraq and other developments in theregion. Annual real GDP growth has averaged 2.3 percent for the lastseven years. The Government of Syria has implemented modest economicreforms in the last few years, including cutting interest rates,opening private banks, consolidating some of the multiple exchangerates, and raising prices on some subsidized foodstuffs.Nevertheless, the economy remains highly controlled by thegovernment. Long run economic constraints include declining oilproduction and exports and pressure on water supplies caused byrapid population growth, industrial expansion, and increased waterpollution.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$60.44 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:2.3% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $3,400 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 25% industry: 31% services: 44% (2003 est.)
Labor force:5.12 million (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 30%, industry 27%, services 43% (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate:20% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line:20% (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):2.1% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):16.3% of GDP (2004 est.)
Budget:revenues: $6.58 billionexpenditures: $9.45 billion, including capital expenditures of $4.67billion (2004 est.)
Public debt:32% of GDP (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:wheat, barley, cotton, lentils, chickpeas, olives, sugar beets;beef, mutton, eggs, poultry, milk
Industries:petroleum, textiles, food processing, beverages, tobacco, phosphaterock mining
Industrial production growth rate:7% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:26.15 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 57.6% hydro: 42.4% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:24.32 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2002)
Oil - production:525,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:240,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports:285,000 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - imports:NA
Oil - proved reserves:2.5 billion bbl (2004 est.)
Natural gas - production:5.84 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:5.84 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:240.7 billion cu m (2004)
Current account balance:$1.1 billion (2003)
Exports:$6.086 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:crude oil, petroleum products, fruits and vegetables, cotton fiber,clothing, meat and live animals, wheat
Exports - partners:Italy 22.7%, France 18%, Turkey 12.9%, Iraq 9%, Saudi Arabia 6.2%(2004)
Imports:$5.042 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and transport equipment, electric power machinery, foodand livestock, metal and metal products, chemicals and chemicalproducts, plastics, yarn, paper
Imports - partners:Turkey 9.4%, Ukraine 8.7%, China 7.8%, Russia 5.4%, Saudi Arabia5.2%, US 4.7%, South Korea 4.6%, Italy 4.3% (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$5 billion (2004 est.)
Debt - external:$4 billion (excludes military debt and debt to Russia) (2004 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$180 million (2002 est.)
Currency (code):Syrian pound (SYP)
Currency code:SYP
Exchange rates:Syrian pounds per US dollar - (official rate): 11.225 (2004),11.225 (2003), 11.225 (2002), 11.225 (2001), 11.225 (2000),(parallel market rate in Amman and Beirut) NA (2004), 52.8 (2003),52.4 (2002), 50.4 (2002), 49.4 (2000)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Syria
Telephones - main lines in use:2,099,300 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:400,000 (2002)
Telephone system:general assessment: fair system currently undergoing significantimprovement and digital upgrades, including fiber-optic technologydomestic: coaxial cable and microwave radio relay networkinternational: country code - 963; satellite earth stations - 1Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region);1 submarine cable; coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Iraq,Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey; participant in Medarabtel
Radio broadcast stations:AM 14, FM 2, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:4.15 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:44 (plus 17 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:1.05 million (1997)
Internet country code:.sy
Internet hosts:11 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2000)
Internet users:220,000 (2002)
Transportation Syria
Railways:total: 2,711 kmstandard gauge: 2,460 km 1.435-m gaugenarrow gauge: 251 km 1.050-m gauge (2004)
Highways:total: 45,697 kmpaved: 6,489 km (including 1,001 km of expressways)unpaved: 39,208 km (2002)
Waterways:900 km (not economically significant) (2002)
Pipelines:gas 2,300 km; oil 2,183 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Baniyas, Latakia
Merchant marine:total: 120 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 446,981 GRT/636,620 DWTby type: bulk carrier 8, cargo 105, container 1, livestock carrier4, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 1foreign-owned: 12 (Egypt 1, Greece 1, Jordan 2, Lebanon 7, Romania 1)registered in other countries: 73 (2005)
Airports:92 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 26 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 16 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 66 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 54 (2004 est.)
Heliports: 7 (2004 est.)
Military Syria
Military branches:Syrian Arab Army, Syrian Arab Navy, Syrian Arab Air Force (includesAir Defense Command), Police and Security Force
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript serviceobligation - 30 months (2004)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 4,356,413 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 3,453,888 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males: 225,113 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $858 million (FY00 est.); note - based on official budget data that may understate actual spending
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 5.9% (FY00)
Transnational Issues Syria
Disputes - international:Golan Heights is Israeli-occupied with the almost 1,000-strong UNDisengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) patrolling a buffer zone since1964; Lebanon claims Shaba'a farms in Golan Heights; internationalpressure prompts the removal of Syrian troops and intelligencepersonel stationed in Lebanon since October 1976; Syria protestsTurkish hydrological projects regulating upper Euphrates waters;2004 Agreement and pending demarcation settles border dispute withJordan
Refugees and internally displaced persons:refugees (country of origin): 413,827 (Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA))IDPs: 170,000 (most displaced from Golan Heights during 1967Arab-Israeli War) (2004)
Illicit drugs:a transit point for opiates and hashish bound for regional andWestern markets; weak anti-money-laundering controls, bankprivatization may leave it vulnerable to money-laundering
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Taiwan
Introduction Taiwan
Background:In 1895, military defeat forced China to cede Taiwan to Japan.Taiwan reverted to Chinese control after World War II. Following theCommunist victory on the mainland in 1949, 2 million Nationalistsfled to Taiwan and established a government using the 1946constitution drawn up for all of China. Over the next five decades,the ruling authorities gradually democratized and incorporated thenative population within the governing structure. In 2000, Taiwanunderwent its first peaceful transfer of power from the Nationalistto the Democratic Progressive Party. Throughout this period, theisland prospered and became one of East Asia's economic "Tigers."The dominant political issues continue to be the relationshipbetween Taiwan and China - specifically the question of eventualunification - as well as domestic political and economic reform.
Geography Taiwan
Location:Eastern Asia, islands bordering the East China Sea, Philippine Sea,South China Sea, and Taiwan Strait, north of the Philippines, offthe southeastern coast of China
Geographic coordinates:23 30 N, 121 00 E
Map references:Southeast Asia
Area:total: 35,980 sq kmland: 32,260 sq kmwater: 3,720 sq kmnote: includes the Pescadores, Matsu, and Quemoy
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Maryland and Delaware combined
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:1,566.3 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical; marine; rainy season during southwest monsoon (June toAugust); cloudiness is persistent and extensive all year
Terrain:eastern two-thirds mostly rugged mountains; flat to gently rollingplains in west
Elevation extremes:lowest point: South China Sea 0 mhighest point: Yu Shan 3,952 m
Natural resources:small deposits of coal, natural gas, limestone, marble, and asbestos
Land use:arable land: 24%permanent crops: 1%other: 75% (2001)
Irrigated land:NA sq km
Natural hazards:earthquakes and typhoons
Environment - current issues:air pollution; water pollution from industrial emissions, rawsewage; contamination of drinking water supplies; trade inendangered species; low-level radioactive waste disposal
Environment - international agreements:party to: none of the selected agreements because of Taiwan'sinternational statussigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements because ofTaiwan's international status
Geography - note:strategic location adjacent to both the Taiwan Strait and the LuzonStrait
People Taiwan
Population:22,894,384 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 19.7% (male 2,349,077/female 2,156,755)15-64 years: 70.7% (male 8,205,933/female 7,980,056)65 years and over: 9.6% (male 1,107,708/female 1,094,855) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 34.14 yearsmale: 33.71 yearsfemale: 34.57 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:0.63% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:12.64 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:6.38 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.1 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.09 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female65 years and over: 1.01 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 6.4 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 7.09 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 5.65 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 77.26 yearsmale: 74.49 yearsfemale: 80.28 years (2005 est.)