@Thailand
Introduction Thailand
Background:A unified Thai kingdom was established in the mid-14th century.Known as Siam until 1939, Thailand is the only Southeast Asiancountry never to have been taken over by a European power. Abloodless revolution in 1932 led to a constitutional monarchy. Inalliance with Japan during World War II, Thailand became a US allyfollowing the conflict. Thailand is currently facing armed violencein its three Muslim-majority southernmost provinces.
Geography Thailand
Location:Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Gulf ofThailand, southeast of Burma
Geographic coordinates:15 00 N, 100 00 E
Map references:Southeast Asia
Area:total: 514,000 sq kmland: 511,770 sq kmwater: 2,230 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly more than twice the size of Wyoming
Land boundaries:total: 4,863 kmborder countries: Burma 1,800 km, Cambodia 803 km, Laos 1,754 km,Malaysia 506 km
Coastline:3,219 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nmcontinental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:tropical; rainy, warm, cloudy southwest monsoon (mid-May toSeptember); dry, cool northeast monsoon (November to mid-March);southern isthmus always hot and humid
Terrain:central plain; Khorat Plateau in the east; mountains elsewhere
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Gulf of Thailand 0 mhighest point: Doi Inthanon 2,576 m
Natural resources:tin, rubber, natural gas, tungsten, tantalum, timber, lead, fish,gypsum, lignite, fluorite, arable land
Land use: arable land: 29.36% permanent crops: 6.46% other: 64.18% (2001)
Irrigated land:47,490 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:land subsidence in Bangkok area resulting from the depletion of thewater table; droughts
Environment - current issues: air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from organic and factory wastes; deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife populations threatened by illegal hunting
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note: controls only land route from Asia to Malaysia and Singapore
People Thailand
Population:65,444,371note: 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: 23.9% (male 7,988,529/female 7,633,405)15-64 years: 68.6% (male 22,195,625/female 22,731,767)65 years and over: 7.5% (male 2,251,112/female 2,643,933) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 30.88 yearsmale: 30.11 yearsfemale: 31.66 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:0.87% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:15.7 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:7.02 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 20.48 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 21.83 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 19.06 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 71.95 yearsmale: 69.65 yearsfemale: 74.37 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.88 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:1.5% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:570,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:58,000 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, malaria, Japanese encephalitis, and plague are high risks in some locations animal contact disease: rabies water contact disease: leptospirosis (2004)
Nationality: noun: Thai (singular and plural) adjective: Thai
Ethnic groups:Thai 75%, Chinese 14%, other 11%
Religions:Buddhist 94.6%, Muslim 4.6%, Christian 0.7%, other 0.1% (2000census)
Languages:Thai, English (secondary language of the elite), ethnic andregional dialects
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 92.6%male: 94.9%female: 90.5% (2002)
Government Thailand
Country name:conventional long form: Kingdom of Thailandconventional short form: Thailandformer: Siam
Government type:constitutional monarchy
Capital:Bangkok
Administrative divisions:76 provinces (changwat, singular and plural); Amnat Charoen, AngThong, Buriram, Chachoengsao, Chai Nat, Chaiyaphum, Chanthaburi,Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Chon Buri, Chumphon, Kalasin, KamphaengPhet, Kanchanaburi, Khon Kaen, Krabi, Krung Thep Mahanakhon(Bangkok), Lampang, Lamphun, Loei, Lop Buri, Mae Hong Son, MahaSarakham, Mukdahan, Nakhon Nayok, Nakhon Pathom, Nakhon Phanom,Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Sawan, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Nan,Narathiwat, Nong Bua Lamphu, Nong Khai, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani,Pattani, Phangnga, Phatthalung, Phayao, Phetchabun, Phetchaburi,Phichit, Phitsanulok, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Phrae, Phuket,Prachin Buri, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Ranong, Ratchaburi, Rayong, RoiEt, Sa Kaeo, Sakon Nakhon, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, SamutSongkhram, Sara Buri, Satun, Sing Buri, Sisaket, Songkhla,Sukhothai, Suphan Buri, Surat Thani, Surin, Tak, Trang, Trat, UbonRatchathani, Udon Thani, Uthai Thani, Uttaradit, Yala, Yasothon
Independence:1238 (traditional founding date; never colonized)
National holiday:Birthday of King PHUMIPHON, 5 December (1927)
Constitution:new constitution signed by King PHUMIPHON on 11 October 1997
Legal system:based on civil law system, with influences of common law; has notaccepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:chief of state: King PHUMIPHON Adunyadet (since 9 June 1946)head of government: Prime Minister THAKSIN Chinnawat (since 9February 2001) and Deputy Prime Ministers CHITCHAI Wannasathi (since11 March 2005), PHINIT Charusombat (since 6 October 2004), SOMKHITChatusiphithak (since 11 March 2005), SURAKIAT Sathianthai (since 11March 2005); SURIYA Chungrungruankit (since 3 August 2005), SUWATLiptapanlop (since 3 August 2005), WISANU Kruangam (since 8 November2003)cabinet: Council of Ministersnote: there is also a Privy Councilelections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister isdesignated from among the members of the House of Representatives;following national elections for the House of Representatives, theleader of the party that can organize a majority coalition usuallyis appointed prime minister by the king
Legislative branch:bicameral National Assembly or Rathasapha consists of the Senate orWuthisapha (200 seats; members elected by popular vote to servesix-year terms) and the House of Representatives or Sapha PhuthaenRatsadon (500 seats; members elected by popular vote to servefour-year terms)elections: Senate - last held 4 March, 29 April, 4 June, 9 July, and22 July 2000 (next to be held by March 2006); House ofRepresentatives - last held 6 February 2005 (next to be held inFebruary 2009)election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats byparty - NA; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party -NA; seats by party - TRT 376, DP 97, TNP 25, PP 2
Judicial branch:Supreme Court or Sandika (judges appointed by the monarch)
Political parties and leaders:Democrat Party or DP (Prachathipat Party) [ABHISIT Wetchachiwa];People's Party or PP (Mahachon Party) [ANEK Laothamatas]; ThaiNation Party or TNP (Chat Thai Party) [BARNHARN SILPA-ARCHA]; ThaiRak Thai Party or TRT [THAKSIN Chinnawat]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:APEC, APT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, BIS, CP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer),OIC (observer), OPCW, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: KASIT Piromyachancery: 1024 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Suite 401, Washington, DC20007-3681telephone: [1] (202) 944-3600FAX: [1] (202) 944-3611consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Ralph L. BOYCEembassy: 120/22 Wireless Road, Bangkokmailing address: APO AP 96546telephone: [66] (2) 205-4000FAX: [66] (2) 254-2990, 205-4131consulate(s) general: Chiang Mai
Flag description:five horizontal bands of red (top), white, blue (double width),white, and red
Economy Thailand
Economy - overview:Thailand has a well developed infrastructure, a free-enterpriseeconomy, and welcomes foreign investment. Thailand has fullyrecovered from the 1997-98 Asian Financial Crisis and was one ofEast Asia's best performers in 2002-04. Increased consumption andinvestment spending and strong export growth pushed GDP growth up to6.9% in 2003 and 6.1% in 2004 despite a sluggish global economy. Thehighly popular government's expansionist policy, including majorsupport of village economic development, has raised concerns aboutfiscal discipline and the health of financial institutions. Bangkokhas pursued preferential trade agreements with a variety of partnersin an effort to boost exports and maintain high growth, and in 2004began negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement with the US. In lateDecember 2004, a major tsunami took 8,500 lives in Thailand andcaused massive destruction of property in the southern provinces ofKrabi, Phangnga, and Phuket.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$524.8 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:6.1% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $8,100 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 9% industry: 44.3% services: 46.7% (2004 est.)
Labor force:36.43 million (November 2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 49%, industry 14%, services 37% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:1.5% (November 2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:10% (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.8% highest 10%: 32.4% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:51.1 (2002)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):2.8% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):22.5% of GDP (Jan - Sep 2004 est.)
Budget:revenues: $30.86 billionexpenditures: $31.94 billion, including capital expenditures of $5billion (2004 est.)
Public debt:47.6% of GDP (November 2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:rice, cassava (tapioca), rubber, corn, sugarcane, coconuts, soybeans
Industries:tourism, textiles and garments, agricultural processing, beverages,tobacco, cement, light manufacturing such as jewelry, electricappliances and components, computers and parts, integrated circuits,furniture, plastics, world's second-largest tungsten producer, andthird-largest tin producer
Industrial production growth rate:8.5% (2004 est.)
Electricity - production:118.9 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 91.3% hydro: 6.4% nuclear: 0% other: 2.4% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:106.1 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:188 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:600 million kWh (2002)
Oil - production:225,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:785,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA
Oil - imports:NA
Oil - proved reserves:600 million bbl (1 January 2003)
Natural gas - production:18.73 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:23.93 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:5.2 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:368.2 billion cu m (1 January 2003)
Current account balance:$6.736 billion (2004 est.)
Exports:$87.91 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:textiles and footwear, fishery products, rice, rubber, jewelry,automobiles, computers and electrical appliances
Exports - partners:US 15.9%, Japan 13.9%, China 7.3%, Singapore 7.2%, Malaysia 5.4%,Hong Kong 5.1% (2004)
Imports:$80.84 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:capital goods, intermediate goods and raw materials, consumergoods, fuels
Imports - partners:Japan 23.6%, China 8.6%, US 7.6%, Malaysia 5.8%, Singapore 4.4%,Taiwan 4.1% (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$48.3 billion (2004)
Debt - external:$50.59 billion (2004 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$72 million (2002)
Currency (code):baht (THB)
Currency code:THB
Exchange rates:baht per US dollar - 40.222 (2004), 41.485 (2003), 42.96 (2002),44.432 (2001), 40.112 (2000)
Fiscal year:1 October - 30 September
Communications Thailand
Telephones - main lines in use:6,617,400 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:26.5 million (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: high quality system, especially in urban areaslike Bangkok; WTO requirement for privatization of telecom sector isplanned to be complete by 2006domestic: fixed line system provided by both a government owned andcommercial provider; wireless service expanding rapidly andoutpacing fixed linesinternational: country code - 66; satellite earth stations - 2Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean); landing country forAPCN submarine cable
Radio broadcast stations:AM 204, FM 334, shortwave 6 (1999)
Radios:13.96 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:5 (all in Bangkok; plus 131 repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:15.19 million (1997)
Internet country code:.th
Internet hosts:103,700 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):15 (2000)
Internet users:6,971,500 (2003)
Transportation Thailand
Railways: total: 4,071 km narrow gauge: 4,071 km 1.000-m gauge (2004)
Highways: total: 57,403 km paved: 56,542 km unpaved: 861 km (2000 est.)
Waterways: 4,000 km note: 3,701 km navigable by boats with drafts up to 0.9 m (2003)
Pipelines:gas 3,112 km; refined products 265 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Bangkok, Laem Chabang, Prachuap Port, Si Racha
Merchant marine:total: 386 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 2,038,597 GRT/3,104,712 DWTby type: bulk carrier 57, cargo 142, chemical tanker 12, combinationore/oil 1, container 21, liquefied gas 25, passenger 3,passenger/cargo 4, petroleum tanker 89, refrigerated cargo 30, rollon/roll off 1, specialized tanker 1foreign-owned: 55 (Indonesia 1, Japan 3, Norway 45, Singapore 6)registered in other countries: 35 (2005)
Airports:109 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 65 over 3,047 m: 7 2,438 to 3,047 m: 10 1,524 to 2,437 m: 23 914 to 1,523 m: 19 under 914 m: 6 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 44 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 15 under 914 m: 28 (2004 est.)
Heliports: 3 (2004 est.)
Military Thailand
Military branches:Royal Thai Army, Royal Thai Navy (includes Royal Thai MarineCorps), Royal Thai Air Force
Military service age and obligation: 21 years of age for compulsory military service; males are registered at 18 years of age; conscript service obliation - 2 years; 18 years of age for voluntary military service (2004)
Manpower available for military service:males age 21-49: 14.984 million (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 21-49: 10,342,337 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males: 530,493 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$1.775 billion (FY00)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.8% (2003)
Transnational Issues Thailand
Disputes - international:separatist violence in Thailand's predominantly Muslim southernprovinces prompt border closures and controls with Malaysia to stemterrorist activities; southeast Asian states have enhanced bordersurveillance to check the spread of avian flu; Laos and Thailandpledge to complete demarcation of their boundary in 2005; despitecontinuing border committee talks, significant differences remainwith Burma over boundary alignment and the handling of ethnicrebels, refugees, and illegal cross-border activities; Cambodia andThailand dispute sections of boundary with missing boundary markers;Cambodia claims Thai encroachments into Cambodian territory andobstructing access to Preah Vihear temple ruins awarded to Cambodiaby ICJ decision in 1962; ethnic Karens from Burma flee into Thailandto escape fighting between Karen rebels and Burmese troops resultingin Thailand sheltering about 118,000 Burmese refugees in 2004;Karens also protest Thai support for a Burmese hydroelectric damconstruction on the Salween River near the border; environmentalistsin Burma and Thailand remain concerned about China's construction ofhydroelectric dams upstream on the Nujiang/Salween River in YunnanProvince
Refugees and internally displaced persons:refugees (country of origin): 118,407 (Burma) (2004)
Illicit drugs:a minor producer of opium, heroin, and marijuana; illicit transitpoint for heroin en route to the international drug market fromBurma and Laos; eradication efforts have reduced the area ofcannabis cultivation and shifted some production to neighboringcountries; opium poppy cultivation has been reduced by eradicationefforts; also a drug money-laundering center; minor role inamphetamine production for regional consumption; increasingindigenous abuse of methamphetamine
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Togo
Introduction Togo
Background:French Togoland became Togo in 1960. Gen. Gnassingbe EYADEMA,installed as military ruler in 1967, continued to rule well into the21st century. Despite the facade of multiparty elections institutedin the early 1990s, the government continued to be dominated byPresident EYADEMA, whose Rally of the Togolese People (RPT) partymaintained power almost continually since 1967. Togo has come underfire from international organizations for human rights abuses and isplagued by political unrest. While most bilateral and multilateralaid to Togo remains frozen, the European Union initiated a partialresumption of cooperation and development aid to Togo in late 2004.Upon his death in February 2005, President EYADEMA was succeeded byhis son Faure GNASSINGBE. The succession, supported by the militaryand in contravention of the nation's constitution, was challenged bypopular protest and a threat of sanctions from regional leaders.GNASSINGBE succumbed to pressure and agreed to hold elections inlate April 2005.
Geography Togo
Location:Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Benin andGhana
Geographic coordinates:8 00 N, 1 10 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 56,785 sq kmland: 54,385 sq kmwater: 2,400 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than West Virginia
Land boundaries: total: 1,647 km border countries: Benin 644 km, Burkina Faso 126 km, Ghana 877 km
Coastline: 56 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 30 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north
Terrain:gently rolling savanna in north; central hills; southern plateau;low coastal plain with extensive lagoons and marshes
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 mhighest point: Mont Agou 986 m
Natural resources:phosphates, limestone, marble, arable land
Land use: arable land: 46.15% permanent crops: 2.21% other: 51.64% (2001)
Irrigated land:70 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:hot, dry harmattan wind can reduce visibility in north duringwinter; periodic droughts
Environment - current issues:deforestation attributable to slash-and-burn agriculture and theuse of wood for fuel; water pollution presents health hazards andhinders the fishing industry; air pollution increasing in urban areas
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, OzoneLayer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, TropicalTimber 94, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:the country's length allows it to stretch through six distinctgeographic regions; climate varies from tropical to savanna
People Togo
Population:5,681,519note: 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: 43.2% (male 1,232,759/female 1,224,060)15-64 years: 54.2% (male 1,505,737/female 1,571,201)65 years and over: 2.6% (male 60,799/female 86,963) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 17.78 yearsmale: 17.42 yearsfemale: 18.14 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:2.17% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:33.48 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:11.8 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 66.61 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 74.24 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 58.76 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 57.01 yearsmale: 55.02 yearsfemale: 59.06 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:4.61 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:4.1% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:110,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:10,000 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:degree of risk: very highfood or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,hepatitis A, and typhoid fevervectorborne diseases: malaria and yellow fever are high risks insome locationswater contact disease: schistosomiasisrespiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2004)
Nationality:noun: Togolese (singular and plural)adjective: Togolese
Ethnic groups:native African (37 tribes; largest and most important are Ewe,Mina, and Kabre) 99%, European and Syrian-Lebanese less than 1%
Religions:indigenous beliefs 51%, Christian 29%, Muslim 20%
Languages:French (official and the language of commerce), Ewe and Mina (thetwo major African languages in the south), Kabye (sometimes spelledKabiye) and Dagomba (the two major African languages in the north)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 60.9%male: 75.4%female: 46.9% (2003 est.)
Government Togo
Country name:conventional long form: Togolese Republicconventional short form: Togolocal long form: Republique Togolaiselocal short form: noneformer: French Togoland
Government type:republic under transition to multiparty democratic rule
Capital:Lome
Administrative divisions:5 regions (regions, singular - region); Kara, Plateaux, Savanes,Centrale, Maritime
Independence:27 April 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship)
National holiday:Independence Day, 27 April (1960)
Constitution:multiparty draft constitution approved by High Council of theRepublic 1 July 1992, adopted by public referendum 27 September 1992
Legal system:French-based court system
Suffrage:NA years of age; universal adult
Executive branch:chief of state: President Faure GNASSINGBE (since 6 February 2005);note - Gnassingbe EYADEMA died on 5 February 2005 and was succeededby his son, Faure GNASSINGBE; popular elections in April 2005validated the successionhead of government: Prime Minister Edem KODJO (since 8 June 2005)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president and theprime ministerelections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;election last held 24 April 2005 (next to be held NA); primeminister appointed by the presidentelection results: Faure GNASSINGBE elected president; percent ofvote - Faure GNASSINGBE 60.2%, Emmanuel Akitani BOB 38.3%, NicolasLAWSON 1.0%, Harry OLYMPIO 0.6%
Legislative branch:unicameral National Assembly (81 seats; members are elected bypopular vote to serve five-year terms)elections: last held 27 October 2002 (next to be held NA 2007)election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -RPT 72, RSDD 3, UDPS 2, Juvento 2, MOCEP 1, independents 1note: two opposition parties boycotted the election, the Union ofthe Forces for Change, and the Action Committee for Renewal
Judicial branch:Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; Supreme Court or Cour Supreme
Political parties and leaders:Juvento [Monsilia DJATO]; Movement of the Believers of Peace andEquality or MOCEP [leader NA]; Rally for the Support for Developmentand Democracy or RSDD [Harry OLYMPIO]; Rally of the Togolese Peopleor RPT [Faure GNASSINGBE]; Union for Democracy and Social Progressor UDPS [Gagou KOKOU]note: Rally of the Togolese People or RPT, led by PresidentGNASSINGBE, was the only party until the formation of multipleparties was legalized 12 April 1991
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ABEDA, ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD,ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,Interpol, IOC, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, ONUB, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WCO,WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Akoussoulelou BODJONA chancery: 2208 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 234-4212 FAX: [1] (202) 232-3190
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Gregory ENGLE embassy: Angle Rue Kouenou and Rue 15 Beniglato, Lome mailing address: B. P. 852, Lome telephone: [228] 221 29 91 through 221 29 94 FAX: [228] 221 79 52
Flag description:five equal horizontal bands of green (top and bottom) alternatingwith yellow; there is a white five-pointed star on a red square inthe upper hoist-side corner; uses the popular pan-African colors ofEthiopia
Economy Togo
Economy - overview:This small sub-Saharan economy is heavily dependent on bothcommercial and subsistence agriculture, which provides employmentfor 65% of the labor force. Some basic foodstuffs must still beimported. Cocoa, coffee, and cotton generate about 40% of exportearnings, with cotton being the most important cash crop. Togo isthe world's fourth-largest producer of phosphate, but productionfell an estimated 22% in 2002 due to power shortages and the cost ofdeveloping new deposits. The government's decade-long effort,supported by the World Bank and the IMF, to implement economicreform measures, encourage foreign investment, and bring revenues inline with expenditures has moved slowly. Progress depends onfollowing through on privatization, increased openness in governmentfinancial operations, progress toward legislative elections, andcontinued support from foreign donors.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$8.684 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:3% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $1,600 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 39.5% industry: 20.4% services: 40.1% (2003 est.)
Labor force:1.74 million (1996)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 65%, industry 5%, services 30% (1998 est.)
Unemployment rate:NA (2003 est.)
Population below poverty line:32% (1989 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):1% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):19.1% of GDP (2004 est.)
Budget:revenues: $239.2 millionexpenditures: $273.3 million, including capital expenditures of NA(2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:coffee, cocoa, cotton, yams, cassava (tapioca), corn, beans, rice,millet, sorghum; livestock; fish
Industries:phosphate mining, agricultural processing, cement; handicrafts,textiles, beverages
Industrial production growth rate:NA
Electricity - production:108.8 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 98.7% hydro: 1.3% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:451.2 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:350 million kWh; note - electricity supplied by Ghana (2002)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:10,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA
Oil - imports:NA
Current account balance:$-125.6 million (2004 est.)
Exports:$663.1 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:reexports, cotton, phosphates, coffee, cocoa
Exports - partners:Burkina Faso 16.4%, Ghana 15.1%, Benin 9.4%, Mali 7.6%, China 7.5%,India 5.6% (2004)
Imports:$824.9 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products
Imports - partners:China 25.5%, India 13.3%, France 11.5% (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$267.4 million (2004 est.)
Debt - external:$1.4 billion (2000)
Economic aid - recipient:ODA $80 million (2000 est.)
Currency (code):Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsibleauthority is the Central Bank of the West African States
Currency code:XOF
Exchange rates:Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 528.29(2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Togo
Telephones - main lines in use:60,600 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:220,000 (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: fair system based on a network of microwaveradio relay routes supplemented by open-wire lines and a mobilecellular systemdomestic: microwave radio relay and open-wire lines for conventionalsystem; cellular system has capacity of 10,000 telephonesinternational: country code - 228; satellite earth stations - 1Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Symphonie
Radio broadcast stations:AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 4 (1998)
Radios:940,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:3 (plus two repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:73,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.tg
Internet hosts:82 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):3 (2001)
Internet users:210,000 (2003)
Transportation Togo
Railways: total: 568 km narrow gauge: 568 km 1.000-m gauge (2004)
Highways: total: 7,520 km paved: 2,376 km unpaved: 5,144 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:50 km (seasonally on Mono River depending on rainfall) (2003)
Ports and harbors:Kpeme, Lome
Merchant marine:total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 3,918 GRT/3,852 DWTby type: cargo 1, refrigerated cargo 1 (2005)
Airports:9 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 22,438 to 3,047 m: 2 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 7914 to 1,523 m: 5under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)
Military Togo
Military branches:Togolese Armed Forces (FAT): Army, Navy, Air Force, Gendarmerie(2005)
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age for voluntary and compulsory military service (2001)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 1,148,890 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 629,933 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$35.5 million (2004)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.9% (2004)
Transnational Issues Togo
Disputes - international:in 2001 Benin claimed Togo moved boundary monuments - jointcommission continues to resurvey the boundary
Illicit drugs:transit hub for Nigerian heroin and cocaine traffickers; moneylaundering not a significant problem
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Tokelau
Introduction Tokelau
Background:Originally settled by Polynesian emigrants from surrounding islandgroups, the Tokelau Islands were made a British protectorate in1889. They were transferred to New Zealand administration in 1925.
Geography Tokelau
Location:Oceania, group of three atolls in the South Pacific Ocean, aboutone-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Geographic coordinates:9 00 S, 172 00 W
Map references:Oceania
Area:total: 10 sq kmland: 10 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:about 17 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:101 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical; moderated by trade winds (April to November)
Terrain:low-lying coral atolls enclosing large lagoons
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 mhighest point: unnamed location 5 m
Natural resources:NEGL
Land use:arable land: 0% (soil is thin and infertile)permanent crops: 0%other: 100% (2001)
Irrigated land:NA sq km
Natural hazards:lies in Pacific typhoon belt
Environment - current issues:very limited natural resources and overcrowding are contributing toemigration to New Zealand
Geography - note:consists of three atolls, each with a lagoon surrounded by a numberof reef-bound islets of varying length and rising to over threemeters above sea level
People Tokelau
Population: 1,405 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 42% 15-64 years: 53% 65 years and over: 5% (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:-0.01% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:NA
Death rate:NA
Net migration rate:NA
Sex ratio:NA
Infant mortality rate:total: NAmale: NAfemale: NA
Life expectancy at birth:total population: NAmale: -9 yearsfemale: -9 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:NA
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality:noun: Tokelauan(s)adjective: Tokelauan
Ethnic groups:Polynesian
Religions:Congregational Christian Church 70%, Roman Catholic 28%, other 2%note: on Atafu, all Congregational Christian Church of Samoa; onNukunonu, all Roman Catholic; on Fakaofo, both denominations, withthe Congregational Christian Church predominant
Languages:Tokelauan (a Polynesian language), English
Literacy:NA
Government Tokelau
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Tokelau
Dependency status:self-administering territory of New Zealand; note - Tokelauans aredrafting a constitution and developing institutions and patterns ofself-government as Tokelau moves toward free association with NewZealand
Government type:NA
Capital:none; each atoll has its own administrative center
Administrative divisions:none (territory of New Zealand)
Independence:none (territory of New Zealand)
National holiday:Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereigntyover New Zealand), 6 February (1840)
Constitution:administered under the Tokelau Islands Act of 1948; amended in 1970
Legal system:New Zealand and local statutes
Suffrage:21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),represented by Governor General of New Zealand Dame SilviaCARTWRIGHT (since 4 April 2001); New Zealand is represented byAdministrator Neil WALTER (since 1 March 2003)head of government: Pio TUIA (since February 2005); note - positionrotates annually among the three Faipule (village leaders)cabinet: the Council for the Ongoing Government of Tokelau,consisting of three Faipule (village leaders) and three Pulenuku(village mayors) functions as a cabinetelections: none; the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointedby the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade in New Zealand; thehead of government is chosen from the Council of Faipule and servesa one-year term
Legislative branch:unicameral General Fono (21 seats; based upon proportionalrepresentation from the three islands elected by popular vote toserve three-year terms; Nukunonu has 6 seats, Fakaofo has 7 seats,Atafu has 8 seats); note - the Tokelau Amendment Act of 1996 conferslimited legislative power on the General Fonoelections: last held January 2002 (next to be held January 2005)
Judicial branch:Supreme Court in New Zealand exercises civil and criminaljurisdiction in Tokelau
Political parties and leaders:none
Political pressure groups and leaders:none
International organization participation:UNESCO (associate), UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (territory of New Zealand)
Diplomatic representation from the US:none (territory of New Zealand)
Flag description:the flag of New Zealand is used
Economy Tokelau
Economy - overview:Tokelau's small size (three villages), isolation, and lack ofresources greatly restrain economic development and confineagriculture to the subsistence level. The people rely heavily on aidfrom New Zealand - about $4 million annually - to maintain publicservices, with annual aid being substantially greater than GDP. Theprincipal sources of revenue come from sales of copra, postagestamps, souvenir coins, and handicrafts. Money is also remitted tofamilies from relatives in New Zealand.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$1.5 million (1993 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:NA
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $1,000 (1993 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: NA%industry: NA%services: NA%
Labor force:NA
Unemployment rate:NA%
Population below poverty line:NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):NA%
Budget:revenues: $430,800expenditures: $2.8 million, including capital expenditures of$37,300 (1987 est.)
Agriculture - products:coconuts, copra, breadfruit, papayas, bananas; pigs, poultry, goats
Industries:small-scale enterprises for copra production, woodworking, plaitedcraft goods; stamps, coins; fishing
Industrial production growth rate:NA%
Electricity - production:NA kWh
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:NA kWh
Exports:$98,000 f.o.b. (1983)
Exports - commodities:stamps, copra, handicrafts
Exports - partners:New Zealand (2000)
Imports:$323,000 c.i.f. (1983)
Imports - commodities:foodstuffs, building materials, fuel
Imports - partners:New Zealand (2000)
Debt - external:$0
Economic aid - recipient:from New Zealand about $4 million annually
Currency (code):New Zealand dollar (NZD)
Currency code:NZD
Exchange rates:New Zealand dollars per US dollar - 1.5087 (2004), 1.7221 (2003),2.1622 (2002), 2.3788 (2001), 2.2012 (2000)
Fiscal year:1 April - 31 March
Communications Tokelau
Telephones - main lines in use:300 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:0 (2001)
Telephone system:general assessment: modern satellite-based communications system;domestic: radiotelephone service between islandsinternational: country code - 690; radiotelephone service to Samoa;government-regulated telephone service (TeleTok), with 3 satelliteearth stations, established in 1997
Radio broadcast stations:AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NAnote: 1 radio station provides service to all islands (2002)
Radios:1,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.tk
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2000)
Internet users:NA
Transportation Tokelau
Highways: total: NA paved: NA unpaved: NA
Ports and harbors:none; offshore anchorage only
Airports:none; lagoon landings are possible by amphibious aircraft (2004est.)
Military Tokelau
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of New Zealand
Transnational Issues Tokelau
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Tonga
Introduction Tonga
Background:The archipelago of "The Friendly Islands" was united into aPolynesian kingdom in 1845. It became a constitutional monarchy in1875 and a British protectorate in 1900. Tonga acquired itsindependence in 1970 and became a member of the Commonwealth ofNations. It remains the only monarchy in the Pacific.
Geography Tonga
Location:Oceania, archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirdsof the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Geographic coordinates:20 00 S, 175 00 W
Map references:Oceania
Area:total: 748 sq kmland: 718 sq kmwater: 30 sq km
Area - comparative:four times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:419 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nmcontinental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:tropical; modified by trade winds; warm season (December to May),cool season (May to December)
Terrain:most islands have limestone base formed from uplifted coralformation; others have limestone overlying volcanic base
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 mhighest point: unnamed location on Kao Island 1,033 m
Natural resources:fish, fertile soil
Land use:arable land: 23.61%permanent crops: 43.06%other: 33.33% (2001)
Irrigated land:NA
Natural hazards:cyclones (October to April); earthquakes and volcanic activity onFonuafo'ou
Environment - current issues:deforestation results as more and more land is being cleared foragriculture and settlement; some damage to coral reefs from starfishand indiscriminate coral and shell collectors; overhunting threatensnative sea turtle populations
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of theSea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone LayerProtection, Ship Pollutionsigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:archipelago of 169 islands (36 inhabited)
People Tonga
Population:112,422 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 36.2% (male 20,738/female 19,907)15-64 years: 59.7% (male 33,226/female 33,853)65 years and over: 4.2% (male 2,031/female 2,667) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 20.46 yearsmale: 19.93 yearsfemale: 21.02 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:1.98% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:25.18 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:5.35 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 12.62 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 13.97 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 11.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 69.53 yearsmale: 67.05 yearsfemale: 72.14 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:3 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality:noun: Tongan(s)adjective: Tongan
Ethnic groups:Polynesian, Europeans about 300
Religions:Christian (Free Wesleyan Church claims over 30,000 adherents)
Languages:Tongan, English
Literacy:definition: can read and write Tongan and/or Englishtotal population: 98.9%male: 98.8%female: 99% (1996 est.)
Government Tonga
Country name:conventional long form: Kingdom of Tongaconventional short form: Tongaformer: Friendly Islands
Government type:hereditary constitutional monarchy
Capital:Nuku'alofa
Administrative divisions:3 island groups; Ha'apai, Tongatapu, Vava'u
Independence:4 June 1970 (from UK protectorate)
National holiday:Emancipation Day, 4 June (1970)
Constitution:4 November 1875; revised 1 January 1967
Legal system:based on English law
Suffrage:21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: King Taufa'ahau TUPOU IV (since 16 December 1965)head of government: Prime Minister Prince Lavaka ata ULUKALALA(since 3 January 2000) and Deputy Prime Minister James C. COCKER(since NA January 2001)cabinet: cabinet consists of 16 members, 12 appointed by the monarchfor life; 4 appointed from among the elected members of theLegislative Assembly including 2 each from the Nobles and Peoplesrepresentatives serving three year termsnote: there is also a Privy Council that consists of the monarch,the Cabinet, and two governorselections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister anddeputy prime minister appointed for life by the monarch