Government type:republic
Capital:name: Cairogeographic coordinates: 30 03 N, 31 15 Etime difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Friday in April; ends lastThursday in September
Administrative divisions:26 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Ad Daqahliyah,Al Bahr al Ahmar, Al Buhayrah, Al Fayyum, Al Gharbiyah, AlIskandariyah, Al Isma'iliyah, Al Jizah, Al Minufiyah, Al Minya, AlQahirah, Al Qalyubiyah, Al Wadi al Jadid, As Suways, Ash Sharqiyah,Aswan, Asyut, Bani Suwayf, Bur Sa'id, Dumyat, Janub Sina', Kafr ashShaykh, Matruh, Qina, Shamal Sina', Suhaj
Independence:28 February 1922 (from UK)
National holiday:Revolution Day, 23 July (1952)
Constitution:11 September 1971; amended 22 May 1980 and 25 May 2005
Legal system:based on English common law, Islamic law, and Napoleonic codes;judicial review by Supreme Court and Council of State (overseesvalidity of administrative decisions); accepts compulsory ICJjurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:chief of state: President Mohammed Hosni MUBARAK (since 14 October1981)head of government: Prime Minister Ahmed NAZIF (since 9 July 2004)cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the presidentelections: president elected by popular vote for six-year term (noterm limits); note - a national referendum in May 2005 approved aconstitutional amendment that changed the presidential election to amulticandidate popular vote; previously the president was nominatedby the People's Assembly and the nomination was validated by anational, popular referendum; last referendum held 26 September1999; first election under terms of constitutional amendment held 7September 2005; next election scheduled for 2011election results: Hosni MUBARAK reelected president; percent of vote- Hosni MUBARAK 88.6%, Ayman NOUR 7.6%, Noman GOMAA 2.9%
Legislative branch:bicameral system consists of the People's Assembly or Majlisal-Sha'b (454 seats; 444 elected by popular vote, 10 appointed bythe president; members serve five-year terms) and the AdvisoryCouncil or Majlis al-Shura - which functions only in a consultativerole (264 seats; 176 elected by popular vote, 88 appointed by thepresident; members serve six-year terms; mid-term elections for halfof the elected members)elections: People's Assembly - three-phase voting - last held 7 and20 November, 1 December 2005;(next to be held November-December2010); Advisory Council - last held May-June 2004 (next to be heldMay-June 2007)election results: People's Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA;seats by party - NDP 311, NWP 6, Tagammu 2, Tomorrow Party 1,independents 112 (12 seats to be determined by rerun elections, 10seats appointed by President); Advisory Council - percent of vote byparty - NA; seats by party - NA
Judicial branch:Supreme Constitutional Court
Political parties and leaders:National Democratic Party or NDP [Mohammed Hosni MUBARAK (governingparty)]; National Progressive Unionist Grouping or Tagammu [RifaatEL-SAID]; New Wafd Party or NWP [Mahmoud ABAZA]; Tomorrow Party[Naji AL-GHATRIFI]note: formation of political parties must be approved by thegovernment
Political pressure groups and leaders: despite a constitutional ban against religious-based parties, the technically illegal Muslim Brotherhood constitutes Hosni MUBARAK's potentially most significant political opposition; MUBARAK tolerated limited political activity by the Brotherhood for his first two terms, but moved more aggressively since then to block its influence; civic society groups are sanctioned, but constrained in practical terms; trade unions and professional associations are officially sanctioned
International organization participation:ABEDA, ACCT, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AU, BSEC (observer), CAEU, COMESA,EBRD, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt(signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM,OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, ONUB, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOMIG, UNRWA,UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Nabil FAHMYchancery: 3521 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone: [1] (202) 895-5400FAX: [1] (202) 244-4319consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, New York, San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Francis J. RICCIARDONE, Jr.embassy: 8 Kamal El Din Salah St., Garden City, Cairomailing address: Unit 64900, Box 15, APO AE 09839-4900telephone: [20] (2) 797-3300FAX: [20] (2) 797-3200
Flag description:three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black; thenational emblem (a gold Eagle of Saladin facing the hoist side witha shield superimposed on its chest above a scroll bearing the nameof the country in Arabic) centered in the white band; design isbased on the Arab Liberation flag and similar to the flag of Syria,which has two green stars, Iraq, which has three green stars (plusan Arabic inscription) in a horizontal line centered in the whiteband, and Yemen, which has a plain white band
Economy Egypt
Economy - overview:Occupying the northeast corner of the African continent, Egypt isbisected by the highly fertile Nile valley, where most economicactivity takes place. In the last 30 years, the government hasreformed the highly centralized economy it inherited from PresidentNASSER. In 2005, Prime Minister Ahmed NAZIF reduced personal andcorporate tax rates, reduced energy subsidies, and privatizedseveral enterprises. The stock market boomed, and GDP grew nearly5%. Despite these achievements, the government has failed to raiseliving standards for the average Egyptian, and has had to continueproviding subsidies for basic necessities. The subsidies havecontributed to a growing budget deficit - more than 8% of GDP in2005 - and represent a significant drain on the economy. Foreigndirect investment remains low. To achieve higher GDP growth theNAZIF government will need to continue its aggressive pursuit ofreform, especially in the energy sector. Egypt's export sectors -particularly natural gas - have bright prospects.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$304.3 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$92.6 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:4.9% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$3,900 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 14.9% industry: 35.7% services: 49.3% (2005 est.)
Labor force: 21.34 million (2005 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 32% industry: 17% services: 51% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate:9.5% (2005 est.)
Population below poverty line:20% (2005 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 4.4% highest 10%: 25% (1995)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:34.4 (2001)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):4.9% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):17.2% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:revenues: $20.29 billionexpenditures: $27.68 billion; including capital expenditures of $2.7billion (2005 est.)
Public debt:104.7% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:cotton, rice, corn, wheat, beans, fruits, vegetables; cattle, waterbuffalo, sheep, goats
Industries:textiles, food processing, tourism, chemicals, pharmaceuticals,hydrocarbons, construction, cement, metals, light manufactures
Industrial production growth rate:5% (2005 est.)
Electricity - production:84.26 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 81% hydro: 19% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:78.16 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:450 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:250 million kWh (2003)
Oil - production:700,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption:566,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:134,000 bbl/day NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:NA bbl/day
Oil - proved reserves:2.7 billion bbl (2005 est.)
Natural gas - production:27 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:27 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:1.9 trillion cu m (2005)
Current account balance:$2.207 billion (2005 est.)
Exports:$14.33 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:crude oil and petroleum products, cotton, textiles, metal products,chemicals
Exports - partners:US 13.4%, Italy 9.4%, Spain 7.7%, Syria 5.7%, Germany 4.9%, France4.9%, UK 4.1% (2005)
Imports:$24.1 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, wood products, fuels
Imports - partners:US 10.6%, Germany 7%, China 6.5%, France 6.3%, Italy 5.7%, SaudiArabia 4.8% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$21.39 billion (2005 est.)
Debt - external:$35.26 billion (2005 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:ODA, $1.12 billion (2002)
Currency (code):Egyptian pound (EGP)
Currency code:EGP
Exchange rates:Egyptian pounds per US dollar - 5.78 (2005), 6.1962 (2004), 5.8509(2003), 4.4997 (2002), 3.973 (2001)
Fiscal year:1 July - 30 June
Communications Egypt
Telephones - main lines in use:10,396,100 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:14,045,134 (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: large system; underwent extensive upgradingduring 1990s and is reasonably modern; Internet access and cellularservice are availabledomestic: principal centers at Alexandria, Cairo, Al Mansurah,Ismailia, Suez, and Tanta are connected by coaxial cable andmicrowave radio relayinternational: country code - 20; satellite earth stations - 2Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean), 1 Arabsat, and 1Inmarsat; 5 coaxial submarine cables; tropospheric scatter to Sudan;microwave radio relay to Israel; a participant in Medarabtel
Radio broadcast stations:AM 42 (plus 15 repeaters), FM 14, shortwave 3 (1999)
Radios:20.5 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:98 (September 1995)
Televisions:7.7 million (1997)
Internet country code:.eg
Internet hosts:2,254 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):50 (2000)
Internet users:5 million (2005)
Transportation Egypt
Airports: 88 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 72over 3,047 m: 132,438 to 3,047 m: 381,524 to 2,437 m: 16under 914 m: 5 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 162,438 to 3,047 m: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 3914 to 1,523 m: 5under 914 m: 7 (2006)
Heliports:3 (2006)
Pipelines:condensate 464 km; condensate/gas 94 km; gas 6,021 km; liquidpetroleum gas 897 km; oil 5,120 km; oil/gas/water 36 km; refinedproducts 897 km (2006)
Railways: total: 5,063 km standard gauge: 5,063 km 1.435-m gauge (62 km electrified) (2005)
Roadways: total: 64,000 km paved: 49,984 km unpaved: 14,016 km (1999)
Waterways:3,500 kmnote: includes Nile River, Lake Nasser, Alexandria-Cairo Waterway,and numerous smaller canals in delta; Suez Canal (193.5 km includingapproaches) navigable by oceangoing vessels drawing up to 17.68 m(2005)
Merchant marine:total: 76 ships (1000 GRT or over) 987,524 GRT/1,467,139 DWTby type: bulk carrier 14, cargo 33, container 2, passenger/cargo 5,petroleum tanker 13, roll on/roll off 9foreign-owned: 9 (Denmark 1, Greece 6, Lebanon 2)registered in other countries: 49 (Bolivia 2, Cambodia 8, Georgia 8,Honduras 4, North Korea 2, Panama 16, Saint Vincent and theGrenadines 3, Sao Tome and Principe 1, Saudi Arabia 2, Sierra Leone1, Thailand 1, unknown 1) (2006)
Ports and terminals:Alexandria, Damietta, El Dekheila, Port Said, Suez, Zeit
Military Egypt
Military branches:Army, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Command
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age for conscript military service; three-year serviceobligation (2001)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 18,347,560females age 18-49: 17,683,904 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 15,540,234females age 18-49: 14,939,378 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 802,920females age 18-49: 764,176 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$2.44 billion (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:3.4% (2004)
Transnational Issues Egypt
Disputes - international:Egypt and Sudan retain claims to administer the two triangularareas that extend north and south of the 1899 Treaty boundary alongthe 22nd Parallel, but have withdrawn their military presence; Egyptis developing the Hala'ib Triangle north of the Treaty line; sincethe attack on Taba and other Egyptian resort towns on the Red Sea inOctober 2004, Egypt vigilantly monitors the Sinai and borders withIsrael and the Gaza Strip; Egypt does not extend domestic asylum tosome 70,000 persons who identify themselves as Palestinians but wholargely lack UNRWA assistance and, until recently, UNHCR recognitionas refugees
Refugees and internally displaced persons:refugees (country of origin): 70,245 (Palestinian Territories)14,904 (Sudan) (2005)
Trafficking in persons:current situation: Egypt is a transit country for women traffickedfrom Eastern Europe to Israel for the purpose of sexualexploitation; these women generally arrive as tourists and aresubsequently trafficked through the Sinai Desert by Bedouin tribes;men and women from sub-Saharan Africa and Asia are believed to betrafficked through the Sinai Desert to Israel and Europe for laborexploitation; some Egyptian children from rural areas are traffickedwithin the country to work as domestic servants or laborers in theagriculture industrytier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Egypt is placed on the Tier 2 WatchList for its failure to show evidence of increasing efforts toaddress trafficking over the past year, particularly in the area oflaw enforcement
Illicit drugs:transit point for Southwest Asian and Southeast Asian heroin andopium moving to Europe, Africa, and the US; transit stop forNigerian couriers; concern as money-laundering site due to laxenforcement of financial regulations
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
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@El Salvador
Introduction El Salvador
Background:El Salvador achieved independence from Spain in 1821 and from theCentral American Federation in 1839. A 12-year civil war, which costabout 75,000 lives, was brought to a close in 1992 when thegovernment and leftist rebels signed a treaty that provided formilitary and political reforms.
Geography El Salvador
Location:Central America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean, betweenGuatemala and Honduras
Geographic coordinates:13 50 N, 88 55 W
Map references:Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total: 21,040 sq kmland: 20,720 sq kmwater: 320 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Massachusetts
Land boundaries: total: 545 km border countries: Guatemala 203 km, Honduras 342 km
Coastline:307 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 200 nm
Climate:tropical; rainy season (May to October); dry season (November toApril); tropical on coast; temperate in uplands
Terrain:mostly mountains with narrow coastal belt and central plateau
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Cerro El Pital 2,730 m
Natural resources:hydropower, geothermal power, petroleum, arable land
Land use:arable land: 31.37%permanent crops: 11.88%other: 56.75% (2005)
Irrigated land:450 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:known as the Land of Volcanoes; frequent and sometimes destructiveearthquakes and volcanic activity; extremely susceptible tohurricanes
Environment - current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution; contamination of soils from disposal of toxic wastes
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:smallest Central American country and only one without a coastlineon Caribbean Sea
People El Salvador
Population:6,822,378 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 36.3% (male 1,265,080/female 1,212,216)15-64 years: 58.5% (male 1,900,372/female 2,092,251)65 years and over: 5.2% (male 156,292/female 196,167) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 21.8 yearsmale: 20.7 yearsfemale: 22.9 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:1.72% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:26.61 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:5.78 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:-3.61 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 24.39 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 27.27 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 21.37 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 71.49 yearsmale: 67.88 yearsfemale: 75.28 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:3.12 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.7% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:29,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:2,200 (2003 est.)
Nationality: noun: Salvadoran(s) adjective: Salvadoran
Ethnic groups:mestizo 90%, white 9%, Amerindian 1%
Religions:Roman Catholic 83%, other 17%note: there is extensive activity by Protestant groups throughoutthe country; by the end of 1992, there were an estimated 1 millionProtestant evangelicals in El Salvador
Languages:Spanish, Nahua (among some Amerindians)
Literacy:definition: age 10 and over can read and writetotal population: 80.2%male: 82.8%female: 77.7% (2003 est.)
Government El Salvador
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of El Salvadorconventional short form: El Salvadorlocal long form: Republica de El Salvadorlocal short form: El Salvador
Government type:republic
Capital:name: San Salvadorgeographic coordinates: 13 42 N, 89 12 Wtime difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during StandardTime)
Administrative divisions:14 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento);Ahuachapan, Cabanas, Chalatenango, Cuscatlan, La Libertad, La Paz,La Union, Morazan, San Miguel, San Salvador, San Vicente, Santa Ana,Sonsonate, Usulutan
Independence:15 September 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday:Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Constitution:23 December 1983
Legal system:based on civil and Roman law with traces of common law; judicialreview of legislative acts in the Supreme Court
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Elias Antonio SACA Gonzalez (since 1 June2004); Vice President Ana Vilma DE ESCOBAR (since 1 June 2004); note- the president is both the chief of state and head of governmenthead of government: President Elias Antonio SACA Gonzalez (since 1June 2004); Vice President Ana Vilma DE ESCOBAR (since 1 June 2004)cabinet: Council of Ministers selected by the presidentelections: president and vice president elected on the same ticketby popular vote for a single five-year term; election last held 21March 2004 (next to be held March 2009)election results: Elias Antonio SACA Gonzalez elected president;percent of vote - Elias Antonio SACA Gonzalez (ARENA) 57.7%, SchafikHANDAL (FMLN) 35.6%, Hector SILVA (CDU-PDC) 3.9%, other 2.8%
Legislative branch:unicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa (84 seats;members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve three-yearterms)elections: last held 12 March 2006 (next to be held in March 2009)election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -ARENA 34, FMLN 32, PCN 10, PDC 6, CD 2
Judicial branch:Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (judges are selected by theLegislative Assembly)
Political parties and leaders:Christian Democratic Party or PDC [Rodolfo PARKER, secretarygeneral]; Democratic Convergence or CD (formerly United DemocraticCenter or CDU) [Ruben ZAMORA, secretary general]; Farabundo MartiNational Liberation Front or FMLN [Medardo GONZALEZ, coordinatorgeneral]; National Conciliation Party or PCN [Ciro CRUZ ZEPEDA,president]; National Republican Alliance or ARENA [Elias AntonioSACA Gonzalez]; Popular Social Christian Party or PPSC [ReneAGUILUZ]; Revolutionary Democratic Front or FDR [Julio CesarHERNANDEZ Carcamo, coordinator general]
Political pressure groups and leaders: labor organizations - Electrical Industry Union of El Salvador or SIES; Federation of the Construction Industry, Similar Transport and other activities, or FESINCONTRANS; National Confederation of Salvadoran Workers or CNTS; National Union of Salvadoran Workers or UNTS; Port Industry Union of El Salvador or SIPES; Salvadoran Union of Ex-Petrolleros and Peasant Workers or USEPOC; Salvadoran Workers Central or CTS; Workers Union of Electrical Corporation or STCEL; business organizations - National Association of Small Enterprise or ANEP; Salvadoran Assembly Industry Association or ASIC; Salvadoran Industrial Association or ASI
International organization participation:BCIE, CACM, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM,IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO(correspondent), ITU, LAES, MIGA, MINURSO, NAM (observer), OAS,OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS,UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Rene Antonio LEON Rodriguezchancery: 2308 California Street NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone: [1] (202) 265-9671FAX: [1] (202) 234-3834consulate(s) general: Chicago, Dallas, Elizabeth (New Jersey),Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York (2), Nogales(Arizona), Santa Ana (California), San Francisco, Washington, DCconsulate(s): Boston
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador H. Douglas BARCLAY embassy: Final Boulevard Santa Elena Sur, Antiguo Cuscatlan, La Libertad, San Salvador mailing address: Unit 3116, APO AA 34023 telephone: [503] 2278-4444 FAX: [503] 2278-5522
Flag description:three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue withthe national coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat ofarms features a round emblem encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE ELSALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL; similar to the flag of Nicaragua,which has a different coat of arms centered in the white band - itfeatures a triangle encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA ontop and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom; also similar to the flag ofHonduras, which has five blue stars arranged in an X patterncentered in the white band
Economy El Salvador
Economy - overview:The smallest country in Central America, El Salvador has the thirdlargest economy, but growth has been minimal in recent years. Hopingto stimulate the sluggish economy, the government is striving toopen new export markets, encourage foreign investment, and modernizethe tax and healthcare systems. Implementation in 2006 of theCentral America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement, which ElSalvador was the first to ratify, is viewed as a key policy to helpachieve these objectives. The trade deficit has been offset byannual remittances from Salvadorans living abroad - 16.6% of GDP in2005 - and external aid. With the adoption of the US dollar as itscurrency in 2001, El Salvador has lost control over monetary policyand must concentrate on maintaining a disciplined fiscal policy.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$31.3 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$16.52 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:2.8% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$4,700 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 9.9% industry: 30.2% services: 59.9% (2005 est.)
Labor force: 2.81 million (2005 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 17.1% industry: 17.1% services: 65.8% (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate:6.5% official rate; but the economy has much underemployment (2005est.)
Population below poverty line:36.1% (2003 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.4% highest 10%: 39.3% (2001)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:52.5 (2001)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):4.7% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):15.8% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:revenues: $2.84 billionexpenditures: $3.167 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA(2006 est.)
Public debt:46.7% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:coffee, sugar, corn, rice, beans, oilseed, cotton, sorghum; beef,dairy products; shrimp
Industries:food processing, beverages, petroleum, chemicals, fertilizer,textiles, furniture, light metals
Industrial production growth rate:1.5% (2005 est.)
Electricity - production:4.158 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 44% hydro: 30.9% nuclear: 0% other: 25.1% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:4.45 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:91 million kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:473 million kWh (2004)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - consumption:40,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:NA bbl/day
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:0 cu m (2003 est.)
Current account balance:$-778 million (2005 est.)
Exports:$3.586 billion (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:offshore assembly exports, coffee, sugar, shrimp, textiles,chemicals, electricity
Exports - partners:US 61%, Guatemala 12.1%, Honduras 7.4%, Nicaragua 4.2% (2005)
Imports:$6.678 billion (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:raw materials, consumer goods, capital goods, fuels, foodstuffs,petroleum, electricity
Imports - partners:US 43.4%, Guatemala 8.2%, Mexico 7.8% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$1.833 billion (2005 est.)
Debt - external:$8.087 billion (2005 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$125 million of which, $53 million from US (2003)
Currency (code):US dollar (USD)
Currency code:USD
Exchange rates:the US dollar became El Salvador's currency in 2001
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications El Salvador
Telephones - main lines in use:971,500 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:2.412 million (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: NAdomestic: nationwide microwave radio relay systeminternational: country code - 503; satellite earth station - 1Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); connected to Central American MicrowaveSystem
Radio broadcast stations:AM 61 (plus 24 repeaters), FM 30, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:2.75 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:5 (1997)
Televisions:600,000 (1990)
Internet country code:.sv
Internet hosts:4,682 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):4 (2000)
Internet users:637,100 (2005)
Transportation El Salvador
Airports: 75 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 4over 3,047 m: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 1914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 711,524 to 2,437 m: 1914 to 1,523 m: 14under 914 m: 56 (2006)
Heliports:1 (2006)
Railways:total: 283 kmnarrow gauge: 283 km 0.914-m gaugenote: length of operational route reduced from 562 km to 283 km bydisuse and lack of maintenance (2005)
Roadways:total: 10,029 kmpaved: 1,986 kmunpaved: 8,043 km (1999)
Waterways:Rio Lempa partially navigable (2004)
Ports and terminals:Acajutla, Puerto Cutuco
Military El Salvador
Military branches:Salvadoran Army (ES), Salvadoran Navy (FNES), Salvadoran Air Force(Fuerza Aerea Salvadorena, FAS) (2006)
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age for compulsory military service, with 12-monthservice obligation; 16 years of age for volunteers (2002)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 1,391,278females age 18-49: 1,542,323 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 960,315females age 18-49: 1,310,466 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 70,286females age 18-49: 69,526 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$161.7 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues El Salvador
Disputes - international:in 1992, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled on thedelimitation of "bolsones" (disputed areas) along the ElSalvador-Honduras boundary, but despite Organization of AmericanStates (OAS) intervention and a further ICJ ruling in 2003, fulldemarcation of the border remains stalled; the 1992 ICJ rulingadvised a tripartite resolution to a maritime boundary in the Gulfof Fonseca advocating Honduran access to the Pacific; El Salvadorcontinues to claim tiny Conejo Island, not identified in the ICJdecision, off Honduras in the Gulf of Fonseca
Illicit drugs:transshipment point for cocaine; small amounts of marijuanaproduced for local consumption; domestic cocaine abuse on the rise
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
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@Equatorial Guinea
Introduction Equatorial Guinea
Background:Equatorial Guinea gained independence in 1968 after 190 years ofSpanish rule. This tiny country, composed of a mainland portion plusfive inhabited islands, is one of the smallest on the Africancontinent. President Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO has ruled thecountry since 1979 when he seized power in a coup. Althoughnominally a constitutional democracy since 1991, the 1996 and 2002presidential elections - as well as the 1999 and 2004 legislativeelections - were widely seen as flawed. The president exerts almosttotal control over the political system and has discouragedpolitical opposition. Equatorial Guinea has experienced rapideconomic growth due to the discovery of large offshore oil reserves,and in the last decade has become Sub-Saharan Africa's third largestoil exporter. Despite the country's economic windfall from oilproduction resulting in a massive increase in government revenue inrecent years, there have been few improvements in the population'sliving standards.
Geography Equatorial Guinea
Location:Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between Cameroon andGabon
Geographic coordinates:2 00 N, 10 00 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 28,051 sq kmland: 28,051 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Maryland
Land boundaries: total: 539 km border countries: Cameroon 189 km, Gabon 350 km
Coastline: 296 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical; always hot, humid
Terrain:coastal plains rise to interior hills; islands are volcanic
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 mhighest point: Pico Basile 3,008 m
Natural resources:petroleum, natural gas, timber, gold, bauxite, diamonds, tantalum,sand and gravel, clay
Land use:arable land: 4.63%permanent crops: 3.57%other: 91.8% (2005)
Irrigated land:NA
Natural hazards:violent windstorms, flash floods
Environment - current issues:tap water is not potable; deforestation
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note: insular and continental regions widely separated
People Equatorial Guinea
Population:540,109 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 41.7% (male 113,083/female 111,989)15-64 years: 54.5% (male 141,914/female 152,645)65 years and over: 3.8% (male 8,886/female 11,592) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 18.8 yearsmale: 18.2 yearsfemale: 19.4 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:2.05% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:35.59 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:15.06 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 89.21 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 95.22 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 83.02 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 49.54 yearsmale: 48 yearsfemale: 51.13 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:4.55 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:3.4% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:5,900 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:370 (2001 est.)
Major infectious diseases:degree of risk: very highfood or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, andtyphoid fevervectorborne disease: malaria (2005)
Nationality:noun: Equatorial Guinean(s) or Equatoguinean(s)adjective: Equatorial Guinean or Equatoguinean
Ethnic groups:Bioko (primarily Bubi, some Fernandinos), Rio Muni (primarilyFang), Europeans less than 1,000, mostly Spanish
Religions:nominally Christian and predominantly Roman Catholic, paganpractices
Languages:Spanish (official), French (official), pidgin English, Fang, Bubi,Ibo
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 85.7%male: 93.3%female: 78.4% (2003 est.)
Government Equatorial Guinea
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Equatorial Guineaconventional short form: Equatorial Guinealocal long form: Republica de Guinea Ecuatorial/Republique de Guineeequatorialelocal short form: Guinea Ecuatorial/Guinee equatorialeformer: Spanish Guinea
Government type:republic
Capital:name: Malabogeographic coordinates: 3 45 N, 8 47 Etime difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)
Administrative divisions:7 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Annobon, BiokoNorte, Bioko Sur, Centro Sur, Kie-Ntem, Litoral, Wele-Nzas
Independence:12 October 1968 (from Spain)
National holiday:Independence Day, 12 October (1968)
Constitution:approved by national referendum 17 November 1991; amended January1995
Legal system:partly based on Spanish civil law and tribal custom
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal adult
Executive branch:chief of state: President Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMAMBASOGO (since 3 August 1979 when he seized power in a military coup)head of government: Prime Minister Ricardo Mangue Obama NFUBEA(since 14 August 2006); First Deputy Prime Minister Mercelino OyonoNTUTUMU (since 15 June 2004)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the presidentelections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term(no term limits); election last held 15 December 2002 (next to beheld December 2009); prime minister and deputy prime ministersappointed by the presidentelection results: Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO reelected president;percent of vote - Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO 97.1%, CelestinoBonifacio BACALE 2.2%; elections marred by widespread fraud
Legislative branch:unicameral House of People's Representatives or Camara deRepresentantes del Pueblo (100 seats; members directly elected bypopular vote to serve five-year terms)elections: last held 25 April 2004 (next to be held in 2009)election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -PDGE 98, CPDS 2note: Parliament has little power since the constitution vests allexecutive authority in the president
Judicial branch:Supreme Tribunal
Political parties and leaders:Convergence Party for Social Democracy or CPDS [Placido MIKOAbogo]; Democratic Party for Equatorial Guinea or PDGE [TeodoroOBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO] (ruling party); Party for Progress ofEquatorial Guinea or PPGE [Severo MOTO]; Popular Action ofEquatorial Guinea or APGE [Miguel Esono EMAN]; Popular Union or UP[Andres Moises Bda ADA]; Progressive Democratic Alliance or ADP[Victorino Bolekia BONAY]; Union of Independent Democrats of UDI[Daniel OYONO]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM,IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, MIGA, NAM,OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO,WIPO, WToO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Purificacion ANGUE ONDOchancery: 2020 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009telephone: [1] (202) 518-5700FAX: [1] (202) 518-5252
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: the US ambassador to Cameroon is accredited toEquatorial Guineaembassy: adjacent to the golf course at the base of Mont Febe; note- relocated embassy is opened for limited functions; inquiriesshould continue to be directed to the US Embassy in Yaounde, Cameroonmailing address: B.P. 817, Yaounde, Cameroon; US Embassy Yaounde, USDepartment of State, Washington, DC 20521-2520telephone: [237] 220 15 00FAX: [237] 220 16 20
Flag description:three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red with ablue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side and the coat of armscentered in the white band; the coat of arms has six yellowsix-pointed stars (representing the mainland and five offshoreislands) above a gray shield bearing a silk-cotton tree and belowwhich is a scroll with the motto UNIDAD, PAZ, JUSTICIA (Unity,Peace, Justice)
Economy Equatorial Guinea
Economy - overview:The discovery and exploitation of large oil reserves havecontributed to dramatic economic growth in recent years. Forestry,farming, and fishing are also major components of GDP. Subsistencefarming predominates. Although pre-independence Equatorial Guineacounted on cocoa production for hard currency earnings, the neglectof the rural economy under successive regimes has diminishedpotential for agriculture-led growth (the government has stated itsintention to reinvest some oil revenue into agriculture). A numberof aid programs sponsored by the World Bank and the IMF have beencut off since 1993, because of corruption and mismanagement. Nolonger eligible for concessional financing because of large oilrevenues, the government has been trying to agree on a "shadow"fiscal management program with the World Bank and IMF. Businesses,for the most part, are owned by government officials and theirfamily members. Undeveloped natural resources include titanium, ironore, manganese, uranium, and alluvial gold. Growth remained strongin 2005, led by oil. Equatorial Guinea now has the second highestper capita income in the world, after Luxembourg.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$25.69 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$7.644 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:18.6% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$50,200 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 3%industry: 90.6%services: 6.2% (2005 est.)
Labor force:NA
Unemployment rate:30% (1998 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):5% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):39.9% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:revenues: $1.973 billionexpenditures: $711.5 million; including capital expenditures of $NA(2005 est.)
Public debt:6.4% of GDP
Agriculture - products: coffee, cocoa, rice, yams, cassava (tapioca), bananas, palm oil nuts; livestock; timber
Industries:petroleum, fishing, sawmilling, natural gas
Industrial production growth rate:30% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:29.43 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 94.3% hydro: 5.7% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:27.37 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2003)
Oil - production:420,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption:1,200 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:NA bbl/day
Oil - proved reserves:563.5 million bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:1.27 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:1.27 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:36.81 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:$264 million (2005 est.)
Exports:$6.727 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:petroleum, methanol, timber, cocoa
Exports - partners:US 25.8%, China 22.9%, Spain 11.4%, Canada 7.7%, Taiwan 7.5%,Portugal 5.7%, Netherlands 5.5%, France 4.2% (2005)
Imports:$1.864 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:petroleum sector equipment, other equipment
Imports - partners:US 24.6%, Italy 20.7%, France 12.1%, Spain 10.8%, Cote d'Ivoire8.7%, UK 7% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$2.103 billion (2005 est.)
Debt - external:$353 million (2005 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$33.8 million $NA
Currency (code):Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note - responsibleauthority is the Bank of the Central African States
Currency code:XAF
Exchange rates:Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 527.47(2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Equatorial Guinea
Telephones - main lines in use:10,000 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:96,900 (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: poor system with adequate government servicesdomestic: NAinternational: country code - 240; international communications fromBata and Malabo to African and European countries; satellite earthstation - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 0, FM 3, shortwave 5 (2002)
Radios:180,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:1 (2002)
Televisions:4,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.gq
Internet hosts:19 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2002)
Internet users:5,000 (2005)
Transportation Equatorial Guinea
Airports:4 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 32,438 to 3,047 m: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 1under 914 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 1under 914 m: 1 (2006)
Pipelines:condensate 46 km; condensate/gas 5 km; gas 47 km; oil 31 km (2006)
Roadways:total: 2,880 km (1999)
Merchant marine:total: 1 ship (1000 GRT or over) 1,745 GRT/3,434 DWTby type: cargo 1 (2006)
Ports and terminals:Malabo
Military Equatorial Guinea
Military branches:Army, Navy, Air Force (2005)
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age (est.) (2004)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 104,563females age 18-49: 109,923 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 56,462females age 18-49: 59,260 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$152.2 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:2.1% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Equatorial Guinea
Disputes - international:in 2002, ICJ ruled on an equidistance settlement ofCameroon-Equatorial Guinea-Nigeria maritime boundary in the Gulf ofGuinea, but a dispute between Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon over anisland at the mouth of the Ntem River, imprecisely defined maritimecoordinates in the ICJ decision, and the unresolved Bakasiallocation contribute to the delay in implementation; UN has beenpressing Equatorial Guinea and Gabon to pledge to resolve thesovereignty dispute over Gabon-occupied Mbane Island and create amaritime boundary in the hydrocarbon-rich Corisco Bay
Trafficking in persons:current situation: Equatorial Guinea is a transit and destinationcountry for women and children trafficked for forced labor,involuntary domestic servitude, and commercial sexual exploitationfrom surrounding countries - primarily Benin, Nigeria, Mali, andCameroon; victims work in the agricultural and commercial sectors ofMalabo and Bata, where demand is high due to a booming oil sector;children work as farmhands, street vendors, or household servants;girls and women are also trafficked for commercial sexualexploitationtier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Equatorial Guinea is placed on theTier 2 Watch List for its failure to provide adequate evidence ofconcrete measures to address trafficking over the past year
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
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@Eritrea
Introduction Eritrea
Background:Eritrea was awarded to Ethiopia in 1952 as part of a federation.Ethiopia's annexation of Eritrea as a province 10 years latersparked a 30-year struggle for independence that ended in 1991 withEritrean rebels defeating governmental forces; independence wasoverwhelmingly approved in a 1993 referendum. A two-and-a-half-yearborder war with Ethiopia that erupted in 1998 ended under UNauspices in December 2000. Eritrea currently hosts a UN peacekeepingoperation that is monitoring a 25 km-wide Temporary Security Zone onthe border with Ethiopia. An international commission, organized toresolve the border dispute, posted its findings in 2002 but finaldemarcation is on hold due to Ethiopian objections.
Geography Eritrea
Location:Eastern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Djibouti and Sudan
Geographic coordinates:15 00 N, 39 00 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 121,320 sq kmland: 121,320 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly larger than Pennsylvania
Land boundaries: total: 1,626 km border countries: Djibouti 109 km, Ethiopia 912 km, Sudan 605 km
Coastline:2,234 km (mainland on Red Sea 1,151 km, islands in Red Sea 1,083 km)
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate:hot, dry desert strip along Red Sea coast; cooler and wetter in thecentral highlands (up to 61 cm of rainfall annually, heaviest Juneto September); semiarid in western hills and lowlands
Terrain:dominated by extension of Ethiopian north-south trending highlands,descending on the east to a coastal desert plain, on the northwestto hilly terrain and on the southwest to flat-to-rolling plains
Elevation extremes:lowest point: near Kulul within the Denakil depression -75 mhighest point: Soira 3,018 m
Natural resources:gold, potash, zinc, copper, salt, possibly oil and natural gas, fish
Land use: arable land: 4.78% permanent crops: 0.03% other: 95.19% (2005)
Irrigated land:210 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:frequent droughts; locust swarms