Political parties and leaders:Jon Frum Movement [Song KEASPAI]; Melanesian Progressive Party orMPP [Barak SOPE]; National United Party or NUP [leader NA]; Union ofModerate Parties or UMP [Serge VOHOR]; Vanua'aku Pati (Our LandParty) or VP [Edward NATAPEI]; Vanuatu Republican Party or VRP[Maxime Carlot KORMAN]; Vanuatu Greens Party or VGP [Moana CARCASSES]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACCT, ACP, AsDB, C, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC,IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IOC, ITU, MIGA, NAM, PIF, Sparteca, UN,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:Vanuatu does not have an embassy in the US; it does, however, havea Permanent Mission to the UN
Diplomatic representation from the US:the US does not have an embassy in Vanuatu; the ambassador to PapuaNew Guinea is accredited to Vanuatu
Flag description:two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a blackisosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) all separated by ablack-edged yellow stripe in the shape of a horizontal Y (the twopoints of the Y face the hoist side and enclose the triangle);centered in the triangle is a boar's tusk encircling two crossednamele leaves, all in yellow
Economy Vanuatu
Economy - overview:This South Pacific island economy is based primarily on small-scaleagriculture, which provides a living for 65% of the population.Fishing, offshore financial services, and tourism, with about 50,000visitors in 2004, are other mainstays of the economy. Mineraldeposits are negligible; the country has no known petroleumdeposits. A small light industry sector caters to the local market.Tax revenues come mainly from import duties. Economic development ishindered by dependence on relatively few commodity exports,vulnerability to natural disasters, and long distances from mainmarkets and between constituent islands. GDP growth rose less than3% on average in the 1990s. In response to foreign concerns, thegovernment has promised to tighten regulation of its offshorefinancial center. In mid-2002 the government stepped up efforts toboost tourism. Agriculture, especially livestock farming, is asecond target for growth. Australia and New Zealand are the mainsuppliers of tourists and foreign aid.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$580 million (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:1.1% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $2,900 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 26%industry: 12%services: 62% (2000 est.)
Labor force:NA
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 65%, industry 5%, services 30% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:NA%
Population below poverty line:NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):3.1% (2003 est.)
Budget:revenues: $52.6 millionexpenditures: $54.3 million, including capital expenditures of$700,000 (2003 est.)
Agriculture - products: copra, coconuts, cocoa, coffee, taro, yams, coconuts, fruits, vegetables; fish, beef
Industries:food and fish freezing, wood processing, meat canning
Industrial production growth rate:1% (1997 est.)
Electricity - production:48.42 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:45.03 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2002)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:600 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA
Oil - imports:NA
Exports:$26.6 million f.o.b. (2003)
Exports - commodities:copra, beef, cocoa, timber, kava, coffee
Exports - partners:Thailand 47%, Malaysia 18.4%, Japan 7.5%, Belgium 5.4%, China 4.9%(2004)
Imports:$138 million c.i.f. (2002)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, fuels
Imports - partners:Taiwan 24%, Australia 16.5%, Japan 11.4%, Singapore 8.5%, NewZealand 7.2%, Fiji 6.3%, US 4.4% (2004)
Debt - external:$83.7 million (2002)
Economic aid - recipient:$27.5 million (2002)
Currency (code):vatu (VUV)
Currency code:VUV
Exchange rates:vatu per US dollar - 111.79 (2004), 122.19 (2003), 139.2 (2002),145.31 (2001), 137.64 (2000)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Vanuatu
Telephones - main lines in use:6,500 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:7,800 (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: NAdomestic: NAinternational: country code - 678; satellite earth station - 1Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 2, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2004)
Radios:67,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:1 (2004)
Televisions:2,300 (1999)
Internet country code:.vu
Internet hosts:512 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2000)
Internet users:7,500 (2003)
Transportation Vanuatu
Highways: total: 1,070 km paved: 256 km unpaved: 814 km (1999 est.)
Ports and harbors:Forari, Port-Vila, Santo (Espiritu Santo)
Merchant marine:total: 52 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,192,474 GRT/1,560,828 DWTby type: bulk carrier 22, cargo 16, container 1, liquefied gas 2,refrigerated cargo 4, roll on/roll off 2, vehicle carrier 5foreign-owned: 52 (Australia 2, Canada 5, Estonia 1, Greece 1,Israel 1, Japan 25, New Zealand 1, Poland 11, Russia 1, Switzerland2, Thailand 1, United States 1)registered in other countries: 1 (2005)
Airports:30 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1524 to 2437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 27 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 17 (2004 est.)
Military Vanuatu
Military branches:no regular military forces; security forces comprise the VanuatuPolice Force (VPF) and paramilitary Vanuatu Mobile Force (VMF),which includes Vanuatu's naval force, known as the Police MaritimeWing (PMW); border security in Vanuatu is the joint responsibilityof the Customs and Inland Revenue Service, VPF, VMF, and PMW (2003)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:NA
Transnational Issues Vanuatu
Disputes - international: Matthew and Hunter Islands east of New Caledonia claimed by Vanuatu and France
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Venezuela
Introduction Venezuela
Background:Venezuela was one of three countries that emerged from the collapseof Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others being Colombia and Ecuador).For most of the first half of the 20th century, Venezuela was ruledby generally benevolent military strongmen, who promoted the oilindustry and allowed for some social reforms. Democratically electedgovernments have held sway since 1959. Current concerns include: apolarized political environment, a politicized military,drug-related violence along the Colombian border, increasinginternal drug consumption, overdependence on the petroleum industrywith its price fluctuations, and irresponsible mining operationsthat are endangering the rain forest and indigenous peoples.
Geography Venezuela
Location:Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the NorthAtlantic Ocean, between Colombia and Guyana
Geographic coordinates:8 00 N, 66 00 W
Map references:South America
Area:total: 912,050 sq kmland: 882,050 sq kmwater: 30,000 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly more than twice the size of California
Land boundaries: total: 4,993 km border countries: Brazil 2,200 km, Colombia 2,050 km, Guyana 743 km
Coastline: 2,800 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 15 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands
Terrain:Andes Mountains and Maracaibo Lowlands in northwest; central plains(llanos); Guiana Highlands in southeast
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 mhighest point: Pico Bolivar (La Columna) 5,007 m
Natural resources:petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, bauxite, other minerals,hydropower, diamonds
Land use: arable land: 2.95% permanent crops: 0.92% other: 96.13% (2001)
Irrigated land:540 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:subject to floods, rockslides, mudslides; periodic droughts
Environment - current issues: sewage pollution of Lago de Valencia; oil and urban pollution of Lago de Maracaibo; deforestation; soil degradation; urban and industrial pollution, especially along the Caribbean coast; threat to the rainforest ecosystem from irresponsible mining operations
Environment - international agreements: party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed but not ratified:: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:on major sea and air routes linking North and South America; AngelFalls in the Guiana Highlands is the world's highest waterfall
People Venezuela
Population:25,375,281 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 29.9% (male 3,909,876/female 3,667,958)15-64 years: 65% (male 8,287,255/female 8,209,599)65 years and over: 5.1% (male 590,236/female 710,357) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 25.6 yearsmale: 24.98 yearsfemale: 26.24 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:1.4% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:18.91 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:4.9 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.07 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 22.2 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 25.31 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 18.85 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 74.31 yearsmale: 71.27 yearsfemale: 77.58 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.26 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.7% - note - no country specific models provided (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:110,000 (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:4,100 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Venezuelan(s)adjective: Venezuelan
Ethnic groups:Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Arab, German, African, indigenouspeople
Religions:nominally Roman Catholic 96%, Protestant 2%, other 2%
Languages:Spanish (official), numerous indigenous dialects
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 93.4%male: 93.8%female: 93.1% (2003 est.)
Government Venezuela
Country name:conventional long form: Bolivarian Republic of Venezuelaconventional short form: Venezuelalocal long form: Republica Bolivariana de Venezuelalocal short form: Venezuela
Government type:federal republic
Capital:Caracas
Administrative divisions:23 states (estados, singular - estado), 1 federal district*(distrito federal), and 1 federal dependency** (dependenciafederal); Amazonas, Anzoategui, Apure, Aragua, Barinas, Bolivar,Carabobo, Cojedes, Delta Amacuro, Dependencias Federales**, DistritoFederal*, Falcon, Guarico, Lara, Merida, Miranda, Monagas, NuevaEsparta, Portuguesa, Sucre, Tachira, Trujillo, Vargas, Yaracuy, Zulianote: the federal dependency consists of 11 federally controlledisland groups with a total of 72 individual islands
Independence:5 July 1811 (from Spain)
National holiday:Independence Day, 5 July (1811)
Constitution:30 December 1999
Legal system:open, adversarial court system
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Hugo CHAVEZ Frias (since 3 February1999); Vice President Jose Vicente RANGEL Vale (since 28 April2002); note - the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernmenthead of government: President Hugo CHAVEZ Frias (since 3 February1999); Vice President Jose Vicente RANGEL Vale (since 28 April2002); note - the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernmentcabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the presidentelections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term;election last held 30 July 2000 (next to be held NA 2006)election results: Hugo CHAVEZ Frias reelected president; percent ofvote - 60%note: a special presidential recall vote on 15 August 2004 resultedin a victory for CHAVEZ; percent of vote - 58% in favor of CHAVEZfulfilling the remaining two years of his term, 42% in favor ofterminating his presidency immediately
Legislative branch:unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (165 seats;members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms; threeseats reserved for the indigenous peoples of Venezuela)elections: last held 30 July 2000 (next to be held July 2005)election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -pro-government 108 (MVR 92, MAS 6, indigenous 3, other 7),opposition 57 (AD 33, COPEI 6, Justice First 5, other 13)
Judicial branch:Supreme Tribunal of Justice or Tribuna Suprema de Justicia(magistrates are elected by the National Assembly for a single12-year term)
Political parties and leaders:Democratic Action or AD [Jesus MENDEZ Quijada]; Fifth RepublicMovement or MVR [Hugo CHAVEZ]; Homeland for All or PPT [JoseALBORNOZ]; Justice First [Julio BORGES]; Movement Toward Socialismor MAS [Hector MUJICA]; National Convergence or Convergencia [JuanJose CALDERA]; Radical Cause or La Causa R [Andres VELASQUEZ];Social Christian Party or COPEI [Eduardo FERNANDEZ]; VenezuelaProject or PV [Henrique SALAS Romer]
Political pressure groups and leaders:FEDECAMARAS, a conservative business group; VECINOS groups;Venezuelan Confederation of Workers or CTV (labor organizationdominated by the Democratic Action)
International organization participation:CAN, CDB, CSN, FAO, G-3, G-15, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate),MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Bernardo ALVAREZ Herrerachancery: 1099 30th Street NW, Washington, DC 20007telephone: [1] (202) 342-2214FAX: [1] (202) 342-6820consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami, New Orleans,New York, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador William R. BROWNFIELDembassy: Calle F con Calle Suapure, Urbanizacion Colinas de ValleArriba, Caracas 1080mailing address: P. O. Box 62291, Caracas 1060-A; APO AA 34037telephone: [58] (212) 975-9234, 975-6411FAX: [58] (212) 975-8991
Flag description:three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), blue, and red withthe coat of arms on the hoist side of the yellow band and an arc ofseven white five-pointed stars centered in the blue band
Economy Venezuela
Economy - overview:Venezuela continues to be highly dependent on the petroleum sector,accounting for roughly one-third of GDP, around 80% of exportearnings, and over half of government operating revenues. Adisastrous two-month national oil strike from December 2002 toFebruary 2003, temporarily halted economic activity. The economyremained in depression in 2003, declining by 9.2% after an 8.9% fallin 2002. Despite continued domestic instability, output recoveredstrongly in 2004, aided by high oil prices. Both inflation andunemployment remain fundamental problems.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$145.2 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:16.8% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $5,800 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 0.1% industry: 46.5% services: 53.4% (2004 est.)
Labor force:12.25 million (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 13%, industry 23%, services 64% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate:17.1% (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:47% (1998 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 0.8% highest 10%: 36.5% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:49.5 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):22.4% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):12.9% of GDP (2004 est.)
Budget:revenues: $26.91 billionexpenditures: $30.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $2.6billion (2004 est.)
Public debt:43.1% of GDP (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:corn, sorghum, sugarcane, rice, bananas, vegetables, coffee; beef,pork, milk, eggs; fish
Industries:petroleum, iron ore mining, construction materials, foodprocessing, textiles, steel, aluminum, motor vehicle assembly
Industrial production growth rate:12.3% (2004 est.)
Electricity - production:89.7 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 31.7% hydro: 68.3% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:89.3 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:450 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:30 million kWh (2003)
Oil - production:2.6 million bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:500,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports:2.1 million bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - imports:NA
Oil - proved reserves:78 billion bbl (2004 est.)
Natural gas - production:29.4 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:29.4 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:4.19 trillion cu m (2004)
Current account balance:$14.59 billion (2004 est.)
Exports:$35.84 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:petroleum, bauxite and aluminum, steel, chemicals, agriculturalproducts, basic manufactures
Exports - partners:US 55.6%, Netherlands Antilles 4.7%, Dominican Republic 2.8% (2004)
Imports:$14.98 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:raw materials, machinery and equipment, transport equipment,construction materials
Imports - partners:US 28.8%, Colombia 9.9%, Brazil 7%, Mexico 4.1% (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$25.75 billion (2004 est.)
Debt - external:$33.29 billion (2004 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$74 million (2000)
Currency (code):bolivar (VEB)
Currency code:VEB
Exchange rates:bolivares per US dollar - 1,891.3 (2004), 1,607 (2003), 1,161(2002), 723.7 (2001), 680 (2000)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Venezuela
Telephones - main lines in use:2,841,800 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:6,463,600 (2002)
Telephone system:general assessment: modern and expandingdomestic: domestic satellite system with 3 earth stations; recentsubstantial improvement in telephone service in rural areas;substantial increase in digitalization of exchanges and trunk lines;installation of a national interurban fiber-optic network capable ofdigital multimedia servicesinternational: country code - 58; 3 submarine coaxial cables;satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1PanAmSat; participating with Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia inthe construction of an international fiber-optic network
Radio broadcast stations:AM 201, FM NA (20 in Caracas), shortwave 11 (1998)
Radios:10.75 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:66 (plus 45 repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:4.1 million (1997)
Internet country code:.ve
Internet hosts:35,301 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):16 (2000)
Internet users:1,274,400 (2002)
Transportation Venezuela
Railways: total: 682 km standard gauge: 682 km 1.435-m gauge (2004)
Highways:total: 96,155 kmpaved: 32,308 kmunpaved: 63,847 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:7,100 kmnote: Orinoco River and Lake de Maracaibo navigable by oceangoingvessels, Orinoco for 400 km (2004)
Pipelines:extra heavy crude 992 km; gas 5,262 km; oil 7,360 km; refinedproducts 1,681 km; unknown (oil/water) 141 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Amuay, La Guaira, Maracaibo, Puerto Cabello, Punta Cardon
Merchant marine:total: 56 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 740,919 GRT/1,191,483 DWTby type: bulk carrier 4, cargo 16, chemical tanker 1, container 1,liquefied gas 5, passenger/cargo 9, petroleum tanker 19, rollon/roll off 1foreign-owned: 9 (Denmark 2, Greece 1, Hong Kong 2, Mexico 1, Russia2, Spain 1)registered in other countries: 20 (2005)
Airports:369 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 127 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 11 1,524 to 2,437 m: 31 914 to 1,523 m: 61 under 914 m: 19 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 242 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 88 under 914 m: 144 (2004 est.)
Military Venezuela
Military branches:National Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas Nacionales, FAN): GroundForces or Army (Fuerzas Terrestres or Ejercito), Naval Forces(Fuerzas Navales or Armada - includes Marines, Coast Guard), AirForce (Fuerzas Aereas or Aviacion), Armed Forces of Cooperation orNational Guard (Fuerzas Armadas de Cooperacion or Guardia Nacional)
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscript service obligation - 30 months (2004)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 6,236,012 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 4,907,947 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males: 252,396 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$1.687 billion (2004)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.5% (2004)
Transnational Issues Venezuela
Disputes - international:claims all of the area west of the Essequibo River in Guyana,preventing any discussion of a maritime boundary; Guyana hasexpressed its intention to join Barbados in asserting claims beforeUNCLOS that the Trinidad and Tobago's maritime boundary withVenezuela extends into their waters; dispute with Colombia over LosMonjes islands and maritime boundary near the Gulf of Venezuela;Colombian-organized illegal narcotics and paramilitary activitiespenetrate Venezuela's shared border region resulting in severalthousand residents migrating away from the border; US, France andthe Netherlands recognize Venezuela's claim to give full effect toAves Island, which creates a Venezuelan EEZ/continental shelfextending over a large portion of the Caribbean Sea; Dominica, SaintKitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadinesprotest Venezuela's claim that Aves Island sustains human habitationand other states' recognition of it
Illicit drugs:small-scale illicit producer of opium and coca for the processingof opiates and coca derivatives; however, large quantities ofcocaine, heroin, and marijuana transit the country from Colombiabound for US and Europe; significant narcotics-relatedmoney-laundering activity, especially along the border with Colombiaand on Margarita Island; active eradication program primarilytargeting opium; increasing signs of drug-related activities byColombian insurgents on border
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Vietnam
Introduction Vietnam
Background:The conquest of Vietnam by France began in 1858 and was completedby 1884. It became part of French Indochina in 1887. Independencewas declared after World War II, but the French continued to ruleuntil 1954 when they were defeated by Communist forces under Ho ChiMINH, who took control of the North. US economic and military aid toSouth Vietnam grew through the 1960s in an attempt to bolster thegovernment, but US armed forces were withdrawn following acease-fire agreement in 1973. Two years later, North Vietnameseforces overran the South. Despite the return of peace, for over twodecades the country experienced little economic growth because ofconservative leadership policies. Since 2001, Vietnamese authoritieshave committed to economic liberalization and enacted structuralreforms needed to modernize the economy and to produce morecompetitive, export-driven industries. The country continues toexperience protests from the Montagnard ethnic minority populationof the Central Highlands over loss of land to Vietnamese settlersand religious persecution.
Geography Vietnam
Location:Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, Gulf of Tonkin,and South China Sea, alongside China, Laos, and Cambodia
Geographic coordinates:16 00 N, 106 00 E
Map references:Southeast Asia
Area:total: 329,560 sq kmland: 325,360 sq kmwater: 4,200 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly larger than New Mexico
Land boundaries: total: 4,639 km border countries: Cambodia 1,228 km, China 1,281 km, Laos 2,130 km
Coastline: 3,444 km (excludes islands)
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate:tropical in south; monsoonal in north with hot, rainy season(mid-May to mid-September) and warm, dry season (mid-October tomid-March)
Terrain:low, flat delta in south and north; central highlands; hilly,mountainous in far north and northwest
Elevation extremes:lowest point: South China Sea 0 mhighest point: Fan Si Pan 3,144 m
Natural resources:phosphates, coal, manganese, bauxite, chromate, offshore oil andgas deposits, forests, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 19.97% permanent crops: 5.95% other: 74.08% (2001)
Irrigated land:30,000 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:occasional typhoons (May to January) with extensive flooding,especially in the Mekong River delta
Environment - current issues:logging and slash-and-burn agricultural practices contribute todeforestation and soil degradation; water pollution and overfishingthreaten marine life populations; groundwater contamination limitspotable water supply; growing urban industrialization and populationmigration are rapidly degrading environment in Hanoi and Ho Chi MinhCity
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, EnvironmentalModification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone LayerProtection, Ship Pollution, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:extending 1,650 km north to south, the country is only 50 km acrossat its narrowest point
People Vietnam
Population:83,535,576 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 27.9% (male 12,065,777/female 11,212,299)15-64 years: 66.4% (male 27,406,456/female 28,024,250)65 years and over: 5.8% (male 1,889,585/female 2,937,209) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 25.51 yearsmale: 24.47 yearsfemale: 26.68 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:1.04% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:17.07 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:6.2 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:-0.43 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.08 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 25.95 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 26.35 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 25.52 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 70.61 yearsmale: 67.82 yearsfemale: 73.6 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.94 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.4% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:220,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:9,000 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:degree of risk: highfood or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, andtyphoid fevervectorborne diseases: dengue fever, malaria, Japanese encephalitis,and plague are high risks in some locationsanimal contact disease: rabieswater contact disease: leptospirosis (2004)
Nationality:noun: Vietnamese (singular and plural)adjective: Vietnamese
Ethnic groups:Kinh (Viet) 86.2%, Tay 1.9%, Thai 1.7%, Muong 1.5%, Khome 1.4%, Hoa1.1%, Nun 1.1%, Hmong 1%, others 4.1% (1999 census)
Religions:Buddhist 9.3%, Catholic 6.7%, Hoa Hao 1.5%, Cao Dai 1.1%,Protestant 0.5%, Muslim 0.1%, none 80.8% (1999 census)
Languages:Vietnamese (official), English (increasingly favored as a secondlanguage), some French, Chinese, and Khmer; mountain area languages(Mon-Khmer and Malayo-Polynesian)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 90.3%male: 93.9%female: 86.9% (2002)
Government Vietnam
Country name:conventional long form: Socialist Republic of Vietnamconventional short form: Vietnamlocal long form: Cong Hoa Xa Hoi Chu Nghia Viet Namlocal short form: Viet Namabbreviation: SRV
Government type:Communist state
Capital:Hanoi
Administrative divisions:59 provinces (tinh, singular and plural) and 5 municipalities (thudo, singular and plural): provinces: An Giang, Bac Giang, Bac Kan, Bac Lieu, Bac Ninh, BaRia-Vung Tau, Ben Tre, Binh Dinh, Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc, BinhThuan, Ca Mau, Cao Bang, Dac Lak, Dac Nong, Dien Bien, Dong Nai,Dong Thap, Gia Lai, Ha Giang, Hai Duong, Ha Nam, Ha Tay, Ha Tinh,Hau Giang, Hoa Binh, Hung Yen, Khanh Hoa, Kien Giang, Kon Tum, LaiChau, Lam Dong, Lang Son, Lao Cai, Long An, Nam Dinh, Nghe An, NinhBinh, Ninh Thuan, Phu Tho, Phu Yen, Quang Binh, Quang Nam, QuangNgai, Quang Ninh, Quang Tri, Soc Trang, Son La, Tay Ninh, Thai Binh,Thai Nguyen, Thanh Hoa, Thua Thien-Hue, Tien Giang, Tra Vinh, TuyenQuang, Vinh Long, Vinh Phuc, Yen Bai: municipalities: Can Tho, Da Nang, Hai Phong, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh
Independence:2 September 1945 (from France)
National holiday:Independence Day, 2 September (1945)
Constitution:15 April 1992
Legal system:based on communist legal theory and French civil law system
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Tran Duc LUONG (since 24 September 1997)head of government: Prime Minister Phan Van KHAI (since 25 September1997); First Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Tan DUNG (since 29September 1997); Deputy Prime Ministers Vu KHOAN (8 August 2002) andPham Gia KHIEM (since 29 September 1997)cabinet: Cabinet appointed by president based on proposal of primeminister and ratification of National Assemblyelections: president elected by the National Assembly from among itsmembers for a five-year term; election last held 25 July 2002 (nextto be held when National Assembly meets following legislativeelections in 2007); prime minister appointed by the president fromamong the members of the National Assembly; deputy prime ministersappointed by the prime ministerelection results: Tran Duc LUONG elected president; percent ofNational Assembly vote - NA%
Legislative branch:unicameral National Assembly or Quoc-Hoi (498 seats; memberselected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)elections: last held 19 May 2002 (next to be held 2007)election results: percent of vote by party - CPV 90%, other 10% (the10% are not CPV members but are approved by the CPV to stand forelection); seats by party - CPV 447, CPV-approved 51
Judicial branch:Supreme People's Court (chief justice is elected for a five-yearterm by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the president)
Political parties and leaders:only party - Communist Party of Vietnam or CPV [Nong Duc MANH,general secretary]
Political pressure groups and leaders:none
International organization participation:ACCT (observer), APEC, APT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, CP, FAO, G-77, IAEA,IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Nguyen Tam CHIEN chancery: 1233 20th Street NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 861-0737 FAX: [1] (202) 861-0917 consulate(s) general: San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Michael W. MARINE embassy: 7 Lang Ha Road, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi mailing address: PSC 461, Box 400, FPO AP 96521-0002 telephone: [84] (4) 772-1500 FAX: [84] (4) 772-1510 consulate(s) general: Ho Chi Minh City
Flag description: red with a large yellow five-pointed star in the center
Economy Vietnam
Economy - overview:Vietnam is a densely-populated, developing country that in the last30 years has had to recover from the ravages of war, the loss offinancial support from the old Soviet Bloc, and the rigidities of acentrally planned economy. Substantial progress was achieved from1986 to 1997 in moving forward from an extremely low level ofdevelopment and significantly reducing poverty. Growth averagedaround 9% per year from 1993 to 1997. The 1997 Asian financialcrisis highlighted the problems in the Vietnamese economy andtemporarily allowed opponents of reform to slow progress towards amarket oriented economy. GDP growth of 8.5% in 1997 fell to 6% in1998 and 5% in 1999. Growth then rose to 7% in 2000-04 even againstthe background of global recession. Since 2001, however, Vietnameseauthorities have reaffirmed their commitment to economicliberalization and international integration. They have moved toimplement the structural reforms needed to modernize the economy andto produce more competitive, export-driven industries. However,equitization of state-owned enterprises and reduction in theproportion of non-performing loans has fallen behind schedule.Vietnam's membership in the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) and entryinto force of the US-Vietnam Bilateral Trade in December 2001 haveled to even more rapid changes in Vietnam's trade and economicregime. Vietnam's exports to the US doubled in 2002 and again in2003. Vietnam is working toward accession to the WTO in 2005. Amongother benefits, accession will allow Vietnam to take advantage ofthe phase out of the Agreement on Textiles and Clothing, whicheliminated quotas on textiles and clothing for WTO partners on 1January 2005. Vietnam is working to promote job creation to keep upwith the country's high population growth rate. However, in 2004,high levels of inflation prompted Vietnamese authorities to tightenmonetary and fiscal policies.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$227.2 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:7.7% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:purchasing power parity - $2,700 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 21.8% industry: 40.1% services: 38.1% (2004 est.)
Labor force:42.98 million (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture 63%, industry and services 37% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:1.9% (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:28.9% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.6% highest 10%: 29.9% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:36.1 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):9.5% (2004 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):36.6% of GDP (2004 est.)
Budget:revenues: $10.66 billionexpenditures: $13.09 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.8billion (2004 est.)
Public debt:65.9% of GDP (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:paddy rice, coffee, fish and seafood, rubber, cotton, tea, pepper,soybeans, cashews, sugar cane, peanuts, bananas, poultry
Industries:food processing, garments, shoes, machine-building, mining, cement,chemical fertilizer, glass, tires, oil, coal, steel, paper
Industrial production growth rate:16% (2004 est.)
Electricity - production:34.48 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 43.7% hydro: 56.3% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:32.06 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2002)
Oil - production:359,400 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:185,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:NA
Oil - imports:NA
Oil - proved reserves:650 million bbl (2004 est.)
Natural gas - production:1.3 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:1.3 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:192.6 billion cu m (2004)
Current account balance:$-2.061 billion (2004 est.)
Exports:$23.72 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:crude oil, marine products, rice, coffee, rubber, tea, garments,shoes
Exports - partners:US 20.2%, Japan 13.6%, China 9%, Australia 7%, Germany 5.9%,Singapore 4.8%, UK 4.6% (2004)
Imports:$26.31 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment, petroleum products, fertilizer, steelproducts, raw cotton, grain, cement, motorcycles
Imports - partners:China 13.7%, Taiwan 11.3%, South Korea 10.8%, Japan 10.5%,Singapore 10.5%, Thailand 6.2%, Hong Kong 4% (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$6.51 billion (2004 est.)
Debt - external:$16.55 billion (2004 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $2.8 billion in credits and grants pledged by international donors for 2000 (2004)
Currency (code):dong (VND)
Currency code:VND
Exchange rates:dong per US dollar - 15,746 (2004), 15,510 (2003), 15,280 (2002),14,725 (2001), 14,168 (2000)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Vietnam
Telephones - main lines in use:4.402 million (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:2.742 million (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: Vietnam is putting considerable effort intomodernization and expansion of its telecommunication system, but itsperformance continues to lag behind that of its more modern neighborsdomestic: all provincial exchanges are digitalized and connected toHanoi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City by fiber-optic cable ormicrowave radio relay networks; main lines have been substantiallyincreased, and the use of mobile telephones is growing rapidlyinternational: country code - 84; satellite earth stations - 2Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 65, FM 7, shortwave 29 (1999)
Radios:8.2 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:at least 7 (plus 13 repeaters) (1998)
Televisions:3.57 million (1997)
Internet country code:.vn
Internet hosts:340 (2003)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):5 (2000)
Internet users:3.5 million (2003)
Transportation Vietnam
Railways:total: 2,600 kmstandard gauge: 178 km 1.435-m gaugenarrow gauge: 2,169 km 1.000-m gaugedual gauge: 253 km three-rail track combining 1.435-m and 1.000-mgauges (2004)
Highways: total: 93,300 km paved: 23,418 km unpaved: 69,882 km (1999 est.)
Waterways:17,702 km (5,000 km navigable by vessels up to 1.8 m draft) (2004)
Pipelines:condensate/gas 432 km; gas 210 km; oil 3 km; refined products 206km (2004)
Ports and harbors:Hai Phong, Ho Chi Minh City
Merchant marine:total: 194 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,170,621 GRT/1,798,376 DWTby type: bulk carrier 18, cargo 142, chemical tanker 3, container 2,liquefied gas 4, petroleum tanker 22, refrigerated cargo 2, rollon/roll off 1registered in other countries: 11 (2005)
Airports:24 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 21 over 3,047 m: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 9 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 31,524 to 2,437 m: 1914 to 1,523 m: 1under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Military Vietnam
Military branches:People's Army of Vietnam: Ground Forces, People's Navy Command(includes Naval Infantry), Air and Air Defense Force, Coast Guard
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript serviceobligation - 2 years (2004)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 21,341,813 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 16,032,358 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males: 915,572 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$650 million (FY98)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:2.5% (FY98)
Transnational Issues Vietnam
Disputes - international:southeast Asian states have enhanced border surveillance to checkthe spread of avian flu; Cambodia and Laos protest Vietnamesesquatters and armed encroachments along border; in 2004Laotian-Vietnamese boundary commission agrees to erect missingmarkers in two adjoining provinces; demarcation of the China-Vietnamboundary proceeds slowly and although the maritime boundarydelimitation and fisheries agreements were ratified in June 2004,implementation has been delayed; China occupies Paracel Islands alsoclaimed by Vietnam and Taiwan; involved in complex dispute withChina, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, and possibly Brunei over theSpratly Islands; the 2002 "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties inthe South China Sea" has eased tensions but falls short of a legallybinding "code of conduct" desired by several of the disputants;Vietnam continues to expand construction of facilities in theSpratly Islands; in March 2005, the national oil companies of China,the Philippines, and Vietnam signed a joint accord to conduct marineseismic activities in the Spratly Islands
Illicit drugs:minor producer of opium poppy; probable minor transit point forSoutheast Asian heroin; domestic opium/heroin/methamphetamineaddiction problems
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@Virgin Islands
Introduction Virgin Islands
Background: During the 17th century, the archipelago was divided into two territorial units, one English and the other Danish. Sugarcane, produced by slave labor, drove the islands' economy during the 18th and early 19th centuries. In 1917, the US purchased the Danish portion, which had been in economic decline since the abolition of slavery in 1848.
Geography Virgin Islands
Location:Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North AtlanticOcean, east of Puerto Rico
Geographic coordinates:18 20 N, 64 50 W
Map references:Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total: 352 sq kmland: 349 sq kmwater: 3 sq km
Area - comparative:twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:188 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:subtropical, tempered by easterly trade winds, relatively lowhumidity, little seasonal temperature variation; rainy seasonSeptember to November
Terrain:mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little level land
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Crown Mountain 474 m
Natural resources: sun, sand, sea, surf
Land use: arable land: 11.76% permanent crops: 2.94% other: 85.3% (2001)
Irrigated land:NA
Natural hazards:several hurricanes in recent years; frequent and severe droughtsand floods; occasional earthquakes
Environment - current issues:lack of natural freshwater resources
Geography - note:important location along the Anegada Passage - a key shipping lanefor the Panama Canal; Saint Thomas has one of the best naturaldeepwater harbors in the Caribbean
People Virgin Islands
Population:108,708 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 23.1% (male 12,676/female 12,421)15-64 years: 66.2% (male 34,069/female 37,918)65 years and over: 10.7% (male 5,125/female 6,499) (2005 est.)
Median age:total: 36.52 yearsmale: 35.6 yearsfemale: 37.33 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:-0.07% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:14.2 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:6.26 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:-8.64 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.06 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 8.03 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 9.11 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 6.88 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 78.91 yearsmale: 75.08 yearsfemale: 82.96 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.19 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: Virgin Islander(s)adjective: Virgin Islander
Ethnic groups:black 76.2%, white 13.1%, Asian 1.1%, other 6.1%, mixed 3.5% (2000census)
Religions:Baptist 42%, Roman Catholic 34%, Episcopalian 17%, other 7%
Languages:English 74.7%, Spanish or Spanish Creole 16.8%, French or FrenchCreole 6.6%, other 1.9% (2000 census)
Literacy: definition: NA total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA%
Government Virgin Islands
Country name:conventional long form: United States Virgin Islandsconventional short form: Virgin Islandsformer: Danish West Indies
Dependency status:organized, unincorporated territory of the US with policy relationsbetween the Virgin Islands and the US under the jurisdiction of theOffice of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior
Government type:NA
Capital:Charlotte Amalie
Administrative divisions:none (territory of the US); there are no first-order administrativedivisions as defined by the US Government, but there are threeislands at the second order; Saint Croix, Saint John, Saint Thomas
National holiday:Transfer Day (from Denmark to the US), 27 March (1917)
Constitution:Revised Organic Act of 22 July 1954
Legal system:based on US laws
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal; note - island residents are US citizensbut do not vote in US presidential elections
Executive branch:chief of state: President George W. BUSH of the US (since 20January 2001)head of government: Governor Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL (since 5January 1999)cabinet: NAelections: US president and vice president elected on the sameticket for four-year terms; governor and lieutenant governor electedon the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; electionlast held 5 November 2002 (next to be held November 2006)election results: Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL reelected governor;percent of vote - Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL (Democrat) 50.5%, Johnde JONGH 24.4%