Judicial branch:High Court (a chief justice visits twice a year to preside over itssessions; its rulings can be appealed to the Court of Appeal inFiji); eight Island Courts (with limited jurisdiction)
Political parties and leaders: there are no political parties but members of Parliament usually align themselves in informal groupings
Political pressure groups and leaders:none
International organization participation:ACP, AsDB, C, FAO, IFRCS (observer), IMO, ITU, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca,UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO
Diplomatic representation in the US: Tuvalu does not have an embassy in the US - the country's only diplomatic post is in Fiji - Tuvalu does, however, have a UN office located at 800 2nd Avenue, Suite 400D, New York, New York 10017, telephone: [1] (212) 490-0534
Diplomatic representation from the US:the US does not have an embassy in Tuvalu; the US ambassador toFiji is accredited to Tuvalu
Flag description:light blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-sidequadrant; the outer half of the flag represents a map of the countrywith nine yellow five-pointed stars symbolizing the nine islands
Economy Tuvalu
Economy - overview:Tuvalu consists of a densely populated, scattered group of ninecoral atolls with poor soil. The country has no known mineralresources and few exports. Subsistence farming and fishing are theprimary economic activities. Fewer than 1,000 tourists, on average,visit Tuvalu annually. Government revenues largely come from thesale of stamps and coins and worker remittances. About 1,000Tuvaluans work in Nauru in the phosphate mining industry. Nauru hasbegun repatriating Tuvaluans, however, as phosphate resourcesdecline. Substantial income is received annually from aninternational trust fund established in 1987 by Australia, NZ, andthe UK and supported also by Japan and South Korea. Thanks to wiseinvestments and conservative withdrawals, this fund has grown froman initial $17 million to over $35 million in 1999. The USgovernment is also a major revenue source for Tuvalu because ofpayments from a 1988 treaty on fisheries. In an effort to reduce itsdependence on foreign aid, the government is pursuing public sectorreforms, including privatization of some government functions andpersonnel cuts of up to 7%. In 1998, Tuvalu began deriving revenuefrom use of its area code for "900" lines and in 2000, from thelease of its ".tv" Internet domain name. Royalties from these newtechnology sources could increase substantially over the nextdecade. With merchandise exports only a fraction of merchandiseimports, continued reliance must be placed on fishing andtelecommunications license fees, remittances from overseas workers,official transfers, and income from overseas investments.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$12.2 million (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:3% (2000 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $1,100 (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Labor force: 7,000 (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: people make a living mainly through exploitation of the sea, reefs, and atolls and from wages sent home by those abroad (mostly workers in the phosphate industry and sailors)
Unemployment rate:NA%
Population below poverty line:NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):5% (2000 est.)
Budget:revenues: $22.5 millionexpenditures: $11.2 million, including capital expenditures of $4.2million (2000 est.)
Agriculture - products:coconuts; fish
Industries:fishing, tourism, copra
Industrial production growth rate:NA%
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: NA hydro: NA nuclear: NA other: NA
Exports:$1 million f.o.b. (2002)
Exports - commodities:copra, fish
Exports - partners:Germany 56.5%, Fiji 14.3%, Italy 10.9%, UK 7.7%, Poland 4.9% (2004)
Imports:$79 million c.i.f. (2002)
Imports - commodities:food, animals, mineral fuels, machinery, manufactured goods
Imports - partners:Fiji 50.2%, Japan 18.1%, Australia 9.6%, China 8%, New Zealand 5.5%(2004)
Debt - external:NA
Economic aid - recipient:$13 million; note - major donors are Australia, Japan, and the US(1999 est.)
Currency (code):Australian dollar (AUD); note - there is also a Tuvaluan dollar
Currency code:AUD
Exchange rates:Tuvaluan dollars or Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.3598(2004), 1.5419 (2003), 1.8406 (2002), 1.9334 (2001), 1.7248 (2000)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Tuvalu
Telephones - main lines in use:700 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:0 (2004)
Telephone system:general assessment: serves particular needs for internalcommunicationsdomestic: radiotelephone communications between islandsinternational: country code - 688; international calls can be madeby satellite
Radio broadcast stations:AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (2004)
Radios:4,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:0 (2004)
Televisions:800
Internet country code:.tv
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2000)
Internet users:1,300 (2002)
Transportation Tuvalu
Highways: total: 8 km paved: 0 km unpaved: 8 km (1999 est.)
Ports and harbors:Funafuti
Merchant marine:total: 23 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 54,993 GRT/86,048 DWTby type: cargo 20, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 2foreign-owned: 16 (China 9, Germany 2, Hong Kong 4, Thailand 1)(2005)
Airports:1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Military Tuvalu
Military branches:no regular military forces; national police force
Military expenditures - dollar figure:NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:NA
Transnational Issues Tuvalu
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Uganda
Introduction Uganda
Background:Uganda achieved independence from the UK in 1962. The dictatorialregime of Idi AMIN (1971-79) was responsible for the deaths of some300,000 opponents; guerrilla war and human rights abuses underMilton OBOTE (1980-85) claimed at least another 100,000 lives.During the 1990s, the government promulgated non-party presidentialand legislative elections.
Geography Uganda
Location:Eastern Africa, west of Kenya
Geographic coordinates:1 00 N, 32 00 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 236,040 sq kmland: 199,710 sq kmwater: 36,330 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Oregon
Land boundaries:total: 2,698 kmborder countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo 765 km, Kenya 933km, Rwanda 169 km, Sudan 435 km, Tanzania 396 km
Coastline:0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:none (landlocked)
Climate:tropical; generally rainy with two dry seasons (December toFebruary, June to August); semiarid in northeast
Terrain:mostly plateau with rim of mountains
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Lake Albert 621 m highest point: Margherita Peak on Mount Stanley 5,110 m
Natural resources:copper, cobalt, hydropower, limestone, salt, arable land
Land use:arable land: 25.88%permanent crops: 10.65%other: 63.47% (2001)
Irrigated land:90 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:NA
Environment - current issues:draining of wetlands for agricultural use; deforestation;overgrazing; soil erosion; water hyacinth infestation in LakeVictoria; poaching is widespread
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Lawof the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection,Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
Geography - note:landlocked; fertile, well-watered country with many lakes and rivers
People Uganda
Population:27,269,482note: 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: 50.1% (male 6,875,663/female 6,784,378)15-64 years: 47.7% (male 6,511,867/female 6,494,859)65 years and over: 2.2% (male 263,790/female 338,925) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 14.97 yearsmale: 14.87 yearsfemale: 15.08 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:3.31% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:47.39 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:12.8 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:-1.49 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: 1 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 67.83 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 71.18 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 64.37 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 51.59 yearsmale: 50.74 yearsfemale: 52.46 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:6.74 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:4.1% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:530,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:78,000 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:degree of risk: very highfood or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, andtyphoid fevervectorborne diseases: malaria and African trypanosomiasis (sleepingsickness) are high risks in some locationswater contact disease: schistosomiasis (2004)
Nationality:noun: Ugandan(s)adjective: Ugandan
Ethnic groups:Baganda 17%, Ankole 8%, Basoga 8%, Iteso 8%, Bakiga 7%, Langi 6%,Rwanda 6%, Bagisu 5%, Acholi 4%, Lugbara 4%, Batoro 3%, Bunyoro 3%,Alur 2%, Bagwere 2%, Bakonjo 2%, Jopodhola 2%, Karamojong 2%, Rundi2%, non-African (European, Asian, Arab) 1%, other 8%
Religions:Roman Catholic 33%, Protestant 33%, Muslim 16%, indigenous beliefs18%
Languages:English (official national language, taught in grade schools, usedin courts of law and by most newspapers and some radio broadcasts),Ganda or Luganda (most widely used of the Niger-Congo languages,preferred for native language publications in the capital and may betaught in school), other Niger-Congo languages, Nilo-Saharanlanguages, Swahili, Arabic
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 69.9%male: 79.5%female: 60.4% (2003 est.)
Government Uganda
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Ugandaconventional short form: Uganda
Government type:republic
Capital:Kampala
Administrative divisions:56 districts; Adjumani, Apac, Arua, Bugiri, Bundibugyo, Bushenyi,Busia, Gulu, Hoima, Iganga, Jinja, Kabale, Kabarole, Kaberamaido,Kalangala, Kampala, Kamuli, Kamwenge, Kanungu, Kapchorwa, Kasese,Katakwi, Kayunga, Kibale, Kiboga, Kisoro, Kitgum, Kotido, Kumi,Kyenjojo, Lira, Luwero, Masaka, Masindi, Mayuge, Mbale, Mbarara,Moroto, Moyo, Mpigi, Mubende, Mukono, Nakapiripirit, Nakasongola,Nebbi, Ntungamo, Pader, Pallisa, Rakai, Rukungiri, Sembabule,Sironko, Soroti, Tororo, Wakiso, Yumbe
Independence:9 October 1962 (from UK)
National holiday:Independence Day, 9 October (1962)
Constitution:8 October 1995
Legal system:in 1995, the government restored the legal system to one based onEnglish common law and customary law; accepts compulsory ICJjurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Lt. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI (sinceseizing power 26 January 1986); note - the president is both chiefof state and head of governmenthead of government: President Lt. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI (sinceseizing power 29 January 1986); Prime Minister Apollo NSIBAMBI(since 5 April 1999); note - the president is both chief of stateand head of government; the prime minister assists the president inthe supervision of the cabinetcabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among electedlegislatorselections: president reelected by popular vote for a five-year term;election last held 12 March 2001 (next to be held NA 2006); note -first popular election for president since independence in 1962 washeld in 1996; prime minister appointed by the presidentelection results: Lt. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI elected president;percent of vote - Lt. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI 69.3%, KizzaBESIGYE 27.8%
Legislative branch:unicameral National Assembly (303 members - 214 directly elected bypopular vote, 81 nominated by legally established special interestgroups [women 56, army 10, disabled 5, youth 5, labor 5], 8 exofficio members; members serve five-year terms)elections: last held 26 June 2001 (next to be held by June 2006);election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -NA; note - election campaigning by party was not permitted
Judicial branch:Court of Appeal (judges are appointed by the president and approvedby the legislature); High Court (judges are appointed by thepresident)
Political parties and leaders:only one political organization, the Movement (formerly the NRM)[President MUSEVENI, chairman] is allowed to operate unfettered;note - the president maintains that the Movement is not a politicalparty, but a mass organization, which claims the loyalty of allUgandansnote: the constitution requires the suspension of political partieswhile the Movement organization is in governance; of the politicalparties that exist but are prohibited from sponsoring candidates,the most important are the Ugandan People's Congress or UPC [MiltonOBOTE]; Democratic Party or DP [Paul SSEMOGERERE]; ConservativeParty or CP [Ken LUKYAMUZI]; Justice Forum [Muhammad KibirigeMAYANJA]; and National Democrats Forum [Chapaa KARUHANGA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Popular Resistance Against a Life President or PRALP
International organization participation:ACP, AfDB, AU, C, EADB, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU,ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC,IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UN,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO,WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Edith Grace SSEMPALA chancery: 5911 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011 telephone: [1] (202) 726-7100 through 7102, 0416 FAX: [1] (202) 726-1727
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jimmy KOLKER embassy: 1577 Ggaba Rd., Kampala mailing address: P. O. Box 7007, Kampala telephone: [256] (41) 234-142 FAX: [256] (41) 258-451
Flag description:six equal horizontal bands of black (top), yellow, red, black,yellow, and red; a white disk is superimposed at the center anddepicts a red-crested crane (the national symbol) facing the hoistside
Economy Uganda
Economy - overview:Uganda has substantial natural resources, including fertile soils,regular rainfall, and sizable mineral deposits of copper and cobalt.Agriculture is the most important sector of the economy, employingover 80% of the work force. Coffee accounts for the bulk of exportrevenues. Since 1986, the government - with the support of foreigncountries and international agencies - has acted to rehabilitate andstabilize the economy by undertaking currency reform, raisingproducer prices on export crops, increasing prices of petroleumproducts, and improving civil service wages. The policy changes areespecially aimed at dampening inflation and boosting production andexport earnings. During 1990-2001, the economy turned in a solidperformance based on continued investment in the rehabilitation ofinfrastructure, improved incentives for production and exports,reduced inflation, gradually improved domestic security, and thereturn of exiled Indian-Ugandan entrepreneurs. Corruption within thegovernment and slippage in the government's determination to pressreforms raise doubts about the continuation of strong growth. In2000, Uganda qualified for enhanced Highly Indebted Poor Countries(HIPC) debt relief worth $1.3 billion and Paris Club debt reliefworth $145 million. These amounts combined with the original HIPCdebt relief added up to about $2 billion. Growth for 2001-02 wassolid despite continued decline in the price of coffee, Uganda'sprincipal export. Solid growth in 2003-04 reflected an upturn inUganda's export markets.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$39.39 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:5% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $1,500 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 35.8% industry: 20.8% services: 43.6% (2004 est.)
Labor force:12.41 million (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 82%, industry 5%, services 13% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:NA (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line:35% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: 4%highest 10%: 21% (2000)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:37.4 (1996)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):3.5% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):22.4% of GDP (2004 est.)
Budget:revenues: $1.491 billionexpenditures: $1.727 billion, including capital expenditures of NA(2004 est.)
Public debt:73.9% of GDP (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products: coffee, tea, cotton, tobacco, cassava (tapioca), potatoes, corn, millet, pulses; beef, goat meat, milk, poultry, cut flowers
Industries:sugar, brewing, tobacco, cotton textiles, cement, steel production
Industrial production growth rate:5.6% (2004 est.)
Electricity - production:1.775 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 0.9% hydro: 99.1% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:1.401 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:250 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2002)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:8,750 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA
Oil - imports:NA
Current account balance:$-590.8 million (2004 est.)
Exports:$621.7 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:coffee, fish and fish products, tea; gold, cotton, flowers,horticultural products
Exports - partners:Kenya 15%, Netherlands 10.7%, Belgium 9%, France 4.4%, Germany 4.4%(2004)
Imports:$1.306 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:capital equipment, vehicles, petroleum, medical supplies; cereals
Imports - partners:Kenya 32.3%, UAE 7.3%, South Africa 6.5%, India 5.8%, China 5.6%,UK 5.1%, US 4.8%, Japan 4.8% (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$1.2 billion (2004 est.)
Debt - external:$3.865 billion (2004 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$1.4 billion (2000)
Currency (code):Ugandan shilling (UGX)
Currency code:UGX
Exchange rates:Ugandan shillings per US dollar - 1,810.3 (2004), 1,963.7 (2003),1,797.6 (2002), 1,755.7 (2001), 1,644.5 (2000)
Fiscal year:1 July - 30 June
Communications Uganda
Telephones - main lines in use:61,000 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:776,200 (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: seriously inadequate; two cellular systems havebeen introduced, but a sharp increase in the number of main lines isessential; e-mail and Internet services are availabledomestic: intercity traffic by wire, microwave radio relay, andradiotelephone communication stations, fixed and mobile cellularsystems for short-range trafficinternational: country code - 256; satellite earth stations - 1Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Inmarsat; analog links to Kenya andTanzania
Radio broadcast stations:AM 7, FM 33, shortwave 2 (2001)
Radios:5 million (2001)
Television broadcast stations:8 (plus one low-power repeater) (2001)
Televisions:500,000 (2001)
Internet country code:.ug
Internet hosts:2,692 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):2 (2000)
Internet users:125,000 (2003)
Transportation Uganda
Railways: total: 1,241 km narrow gauge: 1,241 km 1.000-m gauge (2004)
Highways: total: 27,000 km paved: 1,809 km unpaved: 25,191 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:300 km (on Lake Victoria, 200 km on Lake Albert, Lake Kyoga, andparts of Albert Nile) (2004 est.)
Ports and harbors:Entebbe, Jinja, Port Bell
Airports:29 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 4 over 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 25 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 11 under 914 m: 7 (2004 est.)
Military Uganda
Military branches:Ugandan Peoples' Defense Force (UPDF): Army, Marine Unit, Air Wing
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military duty; the government has stated that recruitment below that age could occur with proper consent and that "no person under the apparent age of 13 years shall be enrolled in the armed forces"
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 5,012,620 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 2,889,808 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$170.3 million (2004)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:2.2% (2004)
Transnational Issues Uganda
Disputes - international:Uganda is subject to armed fighting among hostile ethnic groups,rebels, armed gangs, militias, and various government forces;Ugandan refugees have fled the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) into thesouthern Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo; LRA forceshave also attacked Kenyan villages across the border
Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 184,731 (Sudan) 18,000 (Rwanda) IDPs: 1.4 million note - ongoing Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) rebellion, mainly in the north; LRA frequently attacks IDP camps (2004)
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Ukraine
Introduction Ukraine
Background:Ukraine was the center of the first Slavic state, Kievan Rus, whichduring the 10th and 11th centuries was the largest and most powerfulstate in Europe. Weakened by internecine quarrels and Mongolinvasions, Kievan Rus was incorporated into the Grand Duchy ofLithuania and eventually into the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.The cultural and religious legacy of Kievan Rus laid the foundationfor Ukrainian nationalism through subsequent centuries. A newUkrainian state, the Cossack Hetmanate, was established during themid-17th century after an uprising against the Poles. Despitecontinuous Muscovite pressure, the Hetmanate managed to remainautonomous for well over 100 years. During the latter part of the18th century, most Ukrainian ethnographic territory was absorbed bythe Russian Empire. Following the collapse of czarist Russia in1917, Ukraine was able to bring about a short-lived period ofindependence (1917-20), but was reconquered and forced to endure abrutal Soviet rule that engineered two artificial famines (1921-22and 1932-33) in which over 8 million died. In World War II, Germanand Soviet armies were responsible for some 7 to 8 million moredeaths. Although final independence for Ukraine was achieved in 1991with the dissolution of the USSR, democracy remained elusive as thelegacy of state control and endemic corruption stalled efforts ateconomic reform, privatization, and civil liberties. A peaceful massprotest "Orange Revolution" in the closing months of 2004 forced theauthorities to overturn a rigged presidential election and to allowa new internationally monitored vote that swept into power areformist slate under Viktor YUSHCHENKO. The new government presentsits citizens with hope that the country may at last attain truefreedom and prosperity.
Geography Ukraine
Location:Eastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Poland, Romania,and Moldova in the west and Russia in the east
Geographic coordinates:49 00 N, 32 00 E
Map references:Asia, Europe
Area:total: 603,700 sq kmland: 603,700 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Texas
Land boundaries:total: 4,663 kmborder countries: Belarus 891 km, Hungary 103 km, Moldova 939 km,Poland 526 km, Romania (south) 169 km, Romania (west) 362 km, Russia1,576 km, Slovakia 97 km
Coastline:2,782 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nmcontinental shelf: 200-m or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:temperate continental; Mediterranean only on the southern Crimeancoast; precipitation disproportionately distributed, highest in westand north, lesser in east and southeast; winters vary from coolalong the Black Sea to cold farther inland; summers are warm acrossthe greater part of the country, hot in the south
Terrain:most of Ukraine consists of fertile plains (steppes) and plateaus,mountains being found only in the west (the Carpathians), and in theCrimean Peninsula in the extreme south
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Black Sea 0 mhighest point: Hora Hoverla 2,061 m
Natural resources:iron ore, coal, manganese, natural gas, oil, salt, sulfur,graphite, titanium, magnesium, kaolin, nickel, mercury, timber,arable land
Land use:arable land: 56.21%permanent crops: 1.61%other: 42.18% (2001)
Irrigated land:24,540 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:NA
Environment - current issues:inadequate supplies of potable water; air and water pollution;deforestation; radiation contamination in the northeast from 1986accident at Chornobyl' Nuclear Power Plant
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, AirPollution-Sulfur 85, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol,Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity,Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Endangered Species,Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, MarineDumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent OrganicPollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile OrganicCompounds
Geography - note:strategic position at the crossroads between Europe and Asia;second-largest country in Europe
People Ukraine
Population:47,425,336 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 15.6% (male 3,783,725/female 3,619,754)15-64 years: 68.8% (male 15,619,989/female 16,992,628)65 years and over: 15.6% (male 2,497,851/female 4,911,389) (2005est.)
Median age: total: 38.22 years male: 34.91 years female: 41.21 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:-0.63% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:10.49 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:16.42 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:-0.38 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: 0.92 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.51 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.86 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 20.34 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 21.55 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 19.07 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 69.68 yearsmale: 64.39 yearsfemale: 75.31 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.4 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:1.4% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:360,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:20,000 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Ukrainian(s)adjective: Ukrainian
Ethnic groups:Ukrainian 77.8%, Russian 17.3%, Belarusian 0.6%, Moldovan 0.5%,Crimean Tatar 0.5%, Bulgarian 0.4%, Hungarian 0.3%, Romanian 0.3%,Polish 0.3%, Jewish 0.2%, other 1.8% (2001 census)
Religions:Ukrainian Orthodox - Kiev Patriarchate 19%, Orthodox (no particularjurisdiction) 16%, Ukrainian Orthodox - Moscow Patriarchate 9%,Ukrainian Greek Catholic 6%, Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox 1.7%,Protestant, Jewish, none 38% (2004 est.)
Languages:Ukrainian (official) 67%, Russian 24%; small Romanian-, Polish-,and Hungarian-speaking minorities
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99.7%male: 99.8%female: 99.6% (2003 est.)
People - note:the sex trafficking of Ukrainian women is a serious problem thathas only recently been addressed
Government Ukraine
Country name:conventional long form: noneconventional short form: Ukrainelocal long form: nonelocal short form: Ukrayinaformer: Ukrainian National Republic, Ukrainian State, UkrainianSoviet Socialist Republic
Government type:republic
Capital:Kiev (Kyyiv)
Administrative divisions:24 provinces (oblasti, singular - oblast'), 1 autonomous republic*(avtonomna respublika), and 2 municipalities (mista, singular -misto) with oblast status**; Cherkasy, Chernihiv, Chernivtsi, Crimeaor Avtonomna Respublika Krym* (Simferopol'), Dnipropetrovs'k,Donets'k, Ivano-Frankivs'k, Kharkiv, Kherson, Khmel'nyts'kyy,Kirovohrad, Kiev (Kyyiv)**, Kyyiv, Luhans'k, L'viv, Mykolayiv,Odesa, Poltava, Rivne, Sevastopol'**, Sumy, Ternopil', Vinnytsya,Volyn' (Luts'k), Zakarpattya (Uzhhorod), Zaporizhzhya, Zhytomyrnote: administrative divisions have the same names as theiradministrative centers (exceptions have the administrative centername following in parentheses)
Independence:24 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
National holiday:Independence Day, 24 August (1991); the date of 22 January (1918),the day Ukraine first declared its independence (from SovietRussia), is now celebrated as Unity Day
Constitution:adopted 28 June 1996
Legal system:based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Viktor A. YUSHCHENKO (since 23 January2005)head of government: Prime Minister Yuriy YEKHANUROV (since 22September 2005); First Deputy Prime Minister - Stanislav STASHEVSKYY(since 27 September 2005)cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president andapproved by the Supreme Councilnote: there is also a National Security and Defense Council or NSDCoriginally created in 1992 as the National Security Council, butsignificantly revamped and strengthened under former-PresidentKUCHMA; the NSDC staff is tasked with developing national securitypolicy on domestic and international matters and advising thepresident; a Presidential Administration that helps draftpresidential edicts and provides policy support to the president;and a Council of Regions that serves as an advisory bodyelections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;note - a special repeat runoff presidential election between ViktorYUSHCHENKO and Viktor YANUKOVYCH took place on 26 December 2004after the earlier 21 November 2004 contest - won by Mr. YANUKOVYCH -was invalidated by the Ukrainian Supreme Court because of widespreadand significant violations; prime minister and deputy primeministers appointed by the president and approved by the SupremeCouncilelection results: Viktor YUSHCHENKO elected president; percent ofvote - Viktor YUSHCHENKO 51.99%, Viktor YANUKOVYCH 44.2%
Legislative branch:unicameral Supreme Council or Verkhovna Rada (450 seats; underrecent amendments to Ukraine's election law, the Rada's seats areallocated on a proportional basis to those parties that gain 3% ormore of the national electoral vote; members serve five-year termsbeginning with the next election in 2006)elections: last held 31 March 2002 (next to be held March 2006)election results: percent of vote by party/bloc - Our Ukraine 24%,CPU 20%, United Ukraine 12%, SPU 7%, Yuliya Tymoshenko Bloc 7%,United Social Democratic Party 6%, other 24%; seats by party/bloc -Our Ukraine 101, Regions of Ukraine 61, CPU 59, Working Ukraine 14,United Social Democratic Party 33, Agrarian Party 22, SPU 20, YuliyaTymoshenko Bloc 19, United Ukraine 19, People's DemocraticParty-Party of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs 16, Center Group 15,Democratic Initiatives 14, unaffiliated 57 (December 2004)note: following the election, United Ukraine splintered into theAgrarian Party, European Choice, People's Choice, People'sDemocratic Party, Regions of Ukraine, and WorkingUkraine-Industrialists and Entrepreneurs; these factions have sinceundergone a number of changes
Judicial branch:Supreme Court; Constitutional Court
Political parties and leaders:Agrarian Party [Volodymyr LYTVYN]; Communist Party of Ukraine orCPU [Petro SYMONENKO]; Democratic Initiatives [Stepan HAVRYSH];Industrialists and Entrepreneurs [Anatoliy KINAKH]; Our Ukraine bloc(comprised of several parties the most prominent of which are Rukh,the Ukrainian People's Party, Reforms and Order, and Solidarity)[Viktor YUSHCHENKO]; People's Democratic Party or PDP [ValeriyPUSTOVOYTENKO]; Regions of Ukraine [Viktor YANUKOVYCH]; SocialistParty of Ukraine or SPU [Oleksandr MOROZ, chairman]; United SocialDemocratic Party [Viktor MEDVEDCHUK]; Working Ukraine [SerhiyTYHYPKO]; Yuliya Tymoshenko Bloc [Yuliya TYMOSHENKO]note: as well as numerous smaller parties; United Ukraine and CenterGroup are not actual political parties, but rather deputy groups(factions not based on a party)
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:BSEC, CE, CEI, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, GUUAM, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MONUC, NAM (observer), NSG, OAS(observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO,UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMEE, UNMIK, UNMIL, UNMOVIC, UNOMIG, UPU, WCL, WCO,WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO (observer), ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Mykhailo B. REZNIKchancery: 3350 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007telephone: [1] (202) 349-2920FAX: [1] (202) 333-0817consulate(s) general: Chicago, New York, San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador John E. HERBSTembassy: 10 Yuriia Kotsiubynskoho Street, 04053 Kievmailing address: 5850 Kiev Place, Washington, DC 20521-5850telephone: [380] (44) 490-4000FAX: [380] (44) 490-4085
Flag description:two equal horizontal bands of azure (top) and golden yellowrepresent grainfields under a blue sky
Economy Ukraine
Economy - overview: After Russia, the Ukrainian republic was far and away the most important economic component of the former Soviet Union, producing about four times the output of the next-ranking republic. Its fertile black soil generated more than one-fourth of Soviet agricultural output, and its farms provided substantial quantities of meat, milk, grain, and vegetables to other republics. Likewise, its diversified heavy industry supplied the unique equipment (for example, large diameter pipes) and raw materials to industrial and mining sites (vertical drilling apparatus) in other regions of the former USSR. Ukraine depends on imports of energy, especially natural gas, to meet some 85% of its annual energy requirements. Shortly after independence in December 1991, the Ukrainian Government liberalized most prices and erected a legal framework for privatization, but widespread resistance to reform within the government and the legislature soon stalled reform efforts and led to some backtracking. Output by 1999 had fallen to less than 40% of the 1991 level. Loose monetary policies pushed inflation to hyperinflationary levels in late 1993. Ukraine's dependence on Russia for energy supplies and the lack of significant structural reform have made the Ukrainian economy vulnerable to external shocks. Ukrainian government officials have taken some steps to reform the country's Byzantine tax code, such as the implementation of lower tax rates aimed at bringing more economic activity out of Ukraine's large shadow economy, but more improvements are needed, including closing tax loopholes and eliminating tax privileges and exemptions. Reforms in the more politically sensitive areas of structural reform and land privatization are still lagging. Outside institutions - particularly the IMF - have encouraged Ukraine to quicken the pace and scope of reforms. GDP in 2000 showed strong export-based growth of 6% - the first growth since independence - and industrial production grew 12.9%. The economy continued to expand in 2001 as real GDP rose 9% and industrial output grew by over 14%. Growth of 4.6% in 2002 was more moderate, in part a reflection of faltering growth in the developed world. In general, growth has been undergirded by strong domestic demand, low inflation, and solid consumer and investor confidence. Growth was a sturdy 9.3% in 2003 and a remarkable 12% in 2004, despite a loss of momentum in needed economic reforms.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$299.1 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:12% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $6,300 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 18% industry: 45.1% services: 36.9% (2004 est.)
Labor force:21.11 million (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 24%, industry 32%, services 44% (1996)
Unemployment rate:3.5% officially registered; large number of unregistered orunderemployed workers; the International Labor Organizationcalculates that Ukraine's real unemployment level is around 9-10percent (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:29% (2003 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.7% highest 10%: 23.2% (1999)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:29 (1999)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):12% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):18.8% of GDP (2004 est.)
Budget:revenues: $13.57 billionexpenditures: $12.26 billion, including capital expenditures of NA;note - these estimates probably do not include the government'sdoubling of pensions in September of 2004 (2004 est.)
Public debt:24.7% of GDP (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:grain, sugar beets, sunflower seeds, vegetables; beef, milk
Industries:coal, electric power, ferrous and nonferrous metals, machinery andtransport equipment, chemicals, food processing (especially sugar)
Industrial production growth rate:16.5% (2004 est.)
Electricity - production:180 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 48.6% hydro: 7.9% nuclear: 43.5% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:132 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:1.2 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2002)
Oil - production:72,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - consumption:303,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:NA
Oil - imports:NA
Oil - proved reserves:395 million bbl (9 November 2004)
Natural gas - production:19.6 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:79.86 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - exports:5.8 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - imports:60.4 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:560.7 billion cu m (9 November 2004)
Current account balance:$4.584 billion (2004 est.)
Exports:$32.91 billion (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:ferrous and nonferrous metals, fuel and petroleum products,chemicals, machinery and transport equipment, food products
Exports - partners:Russia 18%, Germany 5.8%, Turkey 5.7%, Italy 5%, US 4.6% (2004)
Imports:$31.45 billion (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:energy, machinery and equipment, chemicals
Imports - partners:Russia 41.8%, Germany 9.6%, Turkmenistan 6.7% (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$11.33 billion (2004 est.)
Debt - external:$16.37 billion (2004 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $637.7 million (1995); IMF Extended Funds Facility $2.2 billion (1998)
Currency (code):hryvnia (UAH)
Currency code:UAH
Exchange rates:hryvnia per US dollar - 5.3192 (2004), 5.3327 (2003), 5.3266(2002), 5.3722 (2001), 5.4402 (2000)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Ukraine
Telephones - main lines in use:10,833,300 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:4.2 million (2002)
Telephone system:general assessment: Ukraine's telecommunication development plan,running through 2005, emphasizes improving domestic trunk lines,international connections, and the mobile cellular systemdomestic: at independence in December 1991, Ukraine inherited atelephone system that was antiquated, inefficient, and in disrepair;more than 3.5 million applications for telephones could not besatisfied; telephone density is now rising slowly and the domestictrunk system is being improved; the mobile cellular telephone systemis expanding at a high rateinternational: country code - 380; two new domestic trunk lines area part of the fiber-optic Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE) system and threeUkrainian links have been installed in the fiber-opticTrans-European Lines (TEL) project that connects 18 countries;additional international service is provided by theItaly-Turkey-Ukraine-Russia (ITUR) fiber-optic submarine cable andby earth stations in the Intelsat, Inmarsat, and Intersputniksatellite systems
Radio broadcast stations:AM 134, FM 289, shortwave 4 (1998)
Radios:45.05 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: at least 33 (plus 21 repeaters that relay broadcasts from Russia) (1997)
Televisions:18.05 million (1997)
Internet country code:.ua
Internet hosts:94,345 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):260 (2001)
Internet users:3.8 million (2003)
Transportation Ukraine
Railways: total: 22,473 km broad gauge: 22,473 km 1.524-m gauge (9,250 km electrified) (2004)
Highways: total: 169,679 km paved: 164,249 km unpaved: 5,430 km (2002)
Waterways:1,672 km (most on Dnieper River) (2004)
Pipelines:gas 20,069 km; oil 4,540 km; refined products 4,169 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Feodosiya, Kerch, Kherson, Mariupol', Mykolayiv, Odesa, Reni,Yuzhnyy
Merchant marine:total: 201 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 675,904 GRT/709,802 DWTby type: bulk carrier 6, cargo 148, container 4, passenger 7,passenger/cargo 6, petroleum tanker 10, refrigerated cargo 11, rollon/roll off 7, specialized tanker 2foreign-owned: 1 (Russia 1)registered in other countries: 113 (2005)
Airports:656 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 174over 3,047 m: 132,438 to 3,047 m: 571,524 to 2,437 m: 30914 to 1,523 m: 4under 914 m: 70 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 482over 3,047 m: 32,438 to 3,047 m: 31,524 to 2,437 m: 14914 to 1,523 m: 34under 914 m: 428 (2004 est.)
Heliports:8 (2004 est.)
Military Ukraine
Military branches:Ground Forces, Naval Forces, Air Forces (Viyskovo-Povitryani Syly),Air Defense Forces (2002)
Military service age and obligation: 18-27 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscript service obligation - 18 months for Army and Air Force, 24 months for Navy (2004)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 11,067,239 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 7,114,337 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males: 378,176 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$617.9 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.4% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Ukraine
Disputes - international:1997 boundary treaty with Belarus remains un-ratified due tounresolved financial claims, stalling demarcation and reducingborder security; delimitation of land boundary with Russia iscomplete but the parties have agreed to defer demarcation; maritimeboundary through the Sea of Azov and Kerch Strait remains unresolveddespite a December 2003 framework agreement and on-goingexpert-level discussions; Moldova and Ukraine have established jointcustoms posts to monitor transit through Moldova's break-awayTransnistria Region which remains under OSCE supervision; Ukraineand Romania have taken their dispute over Ukrainian-administeredZmiyinyy (Snake) Island and Black Sea maritime boundary to the ICJfor adjudication; Romania opposes Ukraine's reopening of anavigation canal from the Danube border through the Ukraine to theBlack Sea
Illicit drugs:limited cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy, mostly for CISconsumption; some synthetic drug production for export to the West;limited government eradication program; used as transshipment pointfor opiates and other illicit drugs from Africa, Latin America, andTurkey to Europe and Russia; Ukraine has improvedanti-money-laundering controls, resulting in its removal from theFinancial Action Task Force's (FATF's) Noncooperative Countries andTerritories List in February 2004; Ukraine's anti-money-launderingregime continues to be monitored by FATF
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@United Arab Emirates
Introduction United Arab Emirates
Background:The Trucial States of the Persian Gulf coast granted the UK controlof their defense and foreign affairs in 19th century treaties. In1971, six of these states - Abu Zaby, 'Ajman, Al Fujayrah, AshShariqah, Dubayy, and Umm al Qaywayn - merged to form the UnitedArab Emirates (UAE). They were joined in 1972 by Ra's al Khaymah.The UAE's per capita GDP is on par with those of leading WestEuropean nations. Its generosity with oil revenues and its moderateforeign policy stance have allowed the UAE to play a vital role inthe affairs of the region.
Geography United Arab Emirates
Location:Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf,between Oman and Saudi Arabia
Geographic coordinates:24 00 N, 54 00 E
Map references:Middle East
Area:total: 82,880 sq kmland: 82,880 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Maine
Land boundaries: total: 867 km border countries: Oman 410 km, Saudi Arabia 457 km
Coastline: 1,318 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:desert; cooler in eastern mountains
Terrain:flat, barren coastal plain merging into rolling sand dunes of vastdesert wasteland; mountains in east
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 mhighest point: Jabal Yibir 1,527 m
Natural resources:petroleum, natural gas
Land use: arable land: 0.6% permanent crops: 2.25% other: 97.15% (2001)
Irrigated land:720 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:frequent sand and dust storms
Environment - current issues: lack of natural freshwater resources compensated by desalination plants; desertification; beach pollution from oil spills
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:strategic location along southern approaches to Strait of Hormuz, avital transit point for world crude oil
People United Arab Emirates
Population:2,563,212note: includes an estimated 1,606,079 non-nationals; the 17 December1995 census presents a total population figure of 2,377,453, andthere are estimates of 3.44 million for 2002 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 25.3% (male 331,269; female 317,977)15-64 years: 71.1% (male 1,115,826; female 707,058)65 years and over: 3.6% (male 66,404; female 24,678) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 27.9 yearsmale: 35.2 yearsfemale: 22.9 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:1.54% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:18.78 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:4.26 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:0.84 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: 1.58 male(s)/female65 years and over: 2.691 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.442 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 14.51 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 17.05 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 11.84 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 75.24 yearsmale: 72.73 yearsfemale: 77.87 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.94 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.18% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA