GDP (purchasing power parity):$9.739 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$6.697 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:2.9% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$7,000 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 6.1% industry: 59.2% services: 34.8% (2005 est.)
Labor force: 640,000 (2005 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 60% industry: 15% services: 25%
Unemployment rate:21% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):-0.1% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):24.7% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:revenues: $2.463 billionexpenditures: $1.618 billion; including capital expenditures of $325million (2005 est.)
Public debt:33.6% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:cocoa, coffee, sugar, palm oil, rubber; cattle; okoume (a tropicalsoftwood); fish
Industries:petroleum extraction and refining; manganese, gold; chemicals, shiprepair, food and beverages, textiles, lumbering and plywood, cement
Industrial production growth rate:1.6% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:1.487 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 34.5% hydro: 65.5% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:1.383 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2003)
Oil - production:268,900 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption:12,250 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:NA bbl/day
Oil - proved reserves:1.921 billion bbl (2005 est.)
Natural gas - production:90 million cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:90 million cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:33.98 billion cu m (2005)
Current account balance:$675 million (2005 est.)
Exports:$5.813 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:crude oil 77%, timber, manganese, uranium (2001)
Exports - partners:US 53.5%, France 6.4%, China 6.3%, Trinidad and Tobago 4% (2005)
Imports:$1.533 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, constructionmaterials
Imports - partners:France 40.6%, US 6.4%, Cameroon 4.2% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$675.2 million (2005 est.)
Debt - external:$3.903 billion (2005 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$331 million (1995)
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 Gabon
Telephones - main lines in use:39,100 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:649,800 (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: adequate service by African standards andimproving with the help of the growing mobile cell systemdomestic: adequate system of cable, microwave radio relay,tropospheric scatter, radiotelephone communication stations, and adomestic satellite system with 12 earth stationsinternational: country code - 241; satellite earth stations - 3Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); fiber optic submarine cable (SAT-3/WASC)provides connectivity to Europe and Asia
Radio broadcast stations:AM 6, FM 7 (and 11 repeaters), shortwave 4 (2001)
Radios:208,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:4 (plus four low-power repeaters) (2001)
Televisions:63,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.ga
Internet hosts:322 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2001)
Internet users:67,000 (2005)
Transportation Gabon
Airports: 56 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 11 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 45 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 15 under 914 m: 23 (2006)
Pipelines: gas 272 km; oil 1,354 km (2006)
Railways: total: 814 km standard gauge: 814 km 1.435-m gauge (2005)
Roadways: total: 32,333 km paved: 6,247 km unpaved: 26,086 km (2003)
Waterways:1,600 km (310 km on Ogooue River) (2005)
Merchant marine:registered in other countries: 2 (Cambodia 1, Panama 1) (2006)
Ports and terminals:Gamba, Libreville, Lucinda, Owendo, Port-Gentil
Military Gabon
Military branches:Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National Police
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service (2001)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 278,826females age 18-49: 279,865 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 159,198females age 18-49: 156,122 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 15,325females age 18-49: 15,367 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$253.5 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:3.4% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Gabon
Disputes - international:UN presses Equatorial Guinea and Gabon to resolve the sovereigntydispute over Gabon-occupied Mbane Island and to establish a maritimeboundary in hydrocarbon-rich Corisco Bay; only a few hundred out ofthe 20,000 Republic of the Congo refugees who fled militia fightingin 2000 remain in Gabon
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
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@Gambia, The
Introduction Gambia, The
Background:The Gambia gained its independence from the UK in 1965; it formed ashort-lived federation of Senegambia with Senegal between 1982 and1989. In 1991 the two nations signed a friendship and cooperationtreaty. A military coup in 1994 overthrew the president and bannedpolitical activity, but a 1996 constitution and presidentialelections, followed by parliamentary balloting in 1997, completed anominal return to civilian rule. The country undertook another roundof presidential and legislative elections in late 2001 and early2002. Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH, the leader of the coup, has beenelected president in all subsequent elections.
Geography Gambia, The
Location:Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal
Geographic coordinates:13 28 N, 16 34 W
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 11,300 sq kmland: 10,000 sq kmwater: 1,300 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly less than twice the size of Delaware
Land boundaries: total: 740 km border countries: Senegal 740 km
Coastline: 80 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 18 nm continental shelf: not specified exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical; hot, rainy season (June to November); cooler, dry season(November to May)
Terrain:flood plain of the Gambia River flanked by some low hills
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 mhighest point: unnamed location 53 m
Natural resources:fish, titanium (rutile and ilmenite), tin, zircon, silica sand,clay, petroleum
Land use: arable land: 27.88% permanent crops: 0.44% other: 71.68% (2005)
Irrigated land:20 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:drought (rainfall has dropped by 30% in the last 30 years)
Environment - current issues:deforestation; desertification; water-borne diseases prevalent
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Lawof the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:almost an enclave of Senegal; smallest country on the continent ofAfrica
People Gambia, The
Population:1,641,564 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 44.3% (male 365,157/female 361,821)15-64 years: 53% (male 431,627/female 438,159)65 years and over: 2.7% (male 22,889/female 21,911) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 17.7 yearsmale: 17.6 yearsfemale: 17.8 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:2.84% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:39.37 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:12.25 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:1.29 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: 0.99 male(s)/female65 years and over: 1.05 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 71.58 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 78.06 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 64.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 54.14 yearsmale: 52.3 yearsfemale: 56.03 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:5.3 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:1.2% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:6,800 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:600 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, malaria, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, yellow fever are high risks in some locations water contact disease: schistosomiasis respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2005)
Nationality:noun: Gambian(s)adjective: Gambian
Ethnic groups:African 99% (Mandinka 42%, Fula 18%, Wolof 16%, Jola 10%, Serahuli9%, other 4%), non-African 1%
Religions:Muslim 90%, Christian 9%, indigenous beliefs 1%
Languages:English (official), Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, other indigenousvernaculars
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 40.1%male: 47.8%female: 32.8% (2003 est.)
Government Gambia, The
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of The Gambiaconventional short form: The Gambia
Government type:republic
Capital:name: Banjulgeographic coordinates: 12 28 N, 16 39 Wtime difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)
Administrative divisions:5 divisions and 1 city*; Banjul*, Central River, Lower River, NorthBank, Upper River, Western
Independence:18 February 1965 (from UK)
National holiday:Independence Day, 18 February (1965)
Constitution:24 April 1970; suspended July 1994; rewritten and approved bynational referendum 8 August 1996; reestablished January 1997
Legal system:based on a composite of English common law, Koranic law, andcustomary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH (since 18 October1996); note - from 1994 to 1996 he was chairman of the Junta); VicePresident Isatou NJIE-SAIDY (since 20 March 1997); note - thepresident is both the chief of state and head of governmenthead of government: President Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH (since 18October 1996); note - from 1994 to 1996 he was chairman of theJunta); Vice President Isatou NJIE-SAIDY (since 20 March 1997)cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the presidentelections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term(no term limits); election last held 22 September 2006 (next to beheld in 2011)election results: Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH reelected president; percentof vote - Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH 67.3%, Ousainou DARBOE 26.6%
Legislative branch:unicameral National Assembly (53 seats; 48 elected by popular vote,5 appointed by the president; members serve five-year terms)elections: last held 17 January 2002 (next to be held 25 January2007)election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -APRC 45, PDOIS 2, NRP 1,
Judicial branch:Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction or APRC [Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH] (the ruling party); Gambian People's Party-Progressive People's Party-United Democratic Party or GPP-PPP-UDP Coalition [Ousainou DARBOE]; National Convention Party or NCP [Sheriff DIBBA]; National Reconciliation Party or NRP [Hamat N. K. BAH]; People's Democratic Organization for Independence and Socialism or PDOIS [Sidia JATTA] note: in August 2001, an independent electoral commission allowed the reregistration of the GPP, NCP, and PPP, three parties banned since 1996
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACP, AfDB, AU, C, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM,IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU,ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, ONUB, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL,UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Dodou Bammy JAGNEchancery: Suite 905, 1156 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005telephone: [1] (202) 785-1379FAX: [1] (202) 785-1430
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph D. STAFFORD, III embassy: Kairaba Avenue, Fajara, Banjul mailing address: P. M. B. No. 19, Banjul telephone: [220] 439-2856, 437-6169, 437-6170 FAX: [220] 439-2475
Flag description:three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue with white edges,and green
Economy Gambia, The
Economy - overview:The Gambia has no significant mineral or natural resource depositsand has a limited agricultural base. About 75% of the populationdepends on crops and livestock for its livelihood. Small-scalemanufacturing activity features the processing of peanuts, fish, andhides. Reexport trade normally constitutes a major segment ofeconomic activity, but a 1999 government-imposed preshipmentinspection plan, and instability of the Gambian dalasi (currency)have drawn some of the reexport trade away from The Gambia. Thegovernment's 1998 seizure of the private peanut firm Alimentaeliminated the largest purchaser of Gambian groundnuts. Despite anannounced program to begin privatizing key parastatals, no planshave been made public that would indicate that the governmentintends to follow through on its promises. Unemployment andunderemployment rates remain extremely high; short-run economicprogress depends on sustained bilateral and multilateral aid, onresponsible government economic management, on continued technicalassistance from the IMF and bilateral donors, and on expected growthin the construction sector.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$3.034 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$429 million (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:5.5% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$1,900 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 30.8% industry: 14.2% services: 54.9% (2005 est.)
Labor force: 400,000 (1996)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 75% industry: 19% services: 6%
Unemployment rate:NA%
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):8.8% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):20% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:revenues: $46.63 millionexpenditures: $62.66 million; including capital expenditures of $4.1million (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:rice, millet, sorghum, peanuts, corn, sesame, cassava (tapioca),palm kernels; cattle, sheep, goats
Industries:processing peanuts, fish, and hides; tourism, beverages,agricultural machinery assembly, woodworking, metalworking, clothing
Industrial production growth rate:NA%
Electricity - production:140 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:130.2 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2003)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - consumption:2,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:NA bbl/day
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:0 cu m (2003 est.)
Current account balance:$-53 million (2005 est.)
Exports:$140.3 million f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:peanut products, fish, cotton lint, palm kernels, re-exports
Exports - partners:India 40.4%, UK 18.2%, Indonesia 8.3%, Senegal 4.6%, Belgium 4.3%(2005)
Imports:$197 million f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:foodstuffs, manufactures, fuel, machinery and transport equipment
Imports - partners:China 21.3%, Senegal 11.3%, Cote d'Ivoire 8.4%, Brazil 6%, US 5.2%,UK 5.1%, Netherlands 4.1% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$82 million (2005 est.)
Debt - external:$628.8 million (2003 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$59.8 million (2003)
Currency (code):dalasi (GMD)
Currency code:GMD
Exchange rates:dalasi per US dollar - 30.38 (2005), 30.03 (2004), 27.306 (2004),19.918 (2003), 15.687 (2002), 15.687 (2001)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Gambia, The
Telephones - main lines in use:44,000 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:247,500 (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: adequate; a packet switched data network isavailabledomestic: adequate network of microwave radio relay and open-wireinternational: country code - 220; microwave radio relay links toSenegal and Guinea-Bissau; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat(Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 3, FM 2, shortwave 0 (2001)
Radios:196,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:1 (government-owned) (1997)
Televisions:5,000 (2000)
Internet country code:.gm
Internet hosts:14 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):2 (2001)
Internet users:49,000 (2005)
Transportation Gambia, The
Airports: 1 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2006)
Roadways: total: 3,742 km paved: 723 km unpaved: 3,019 km (2003)
Waterways:390 km (on River Gambia; small ocean-going vessels can reach 190km) (2004)
Merchant marine:total: 5 ships (1000 GRT or over) 32,064 GRT/9,751 DWTby type: passenger/cargo 4, petroleum tanker 1 (2006)
Ports and terminals:Banjul
Military Gambia, The
Military branches:Gambian National Army (GNA), Gambian Navy (GN), Presidential Guard,National Guard
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription(2001)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 311,025females age 18-49: 316,214 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 183,057females age 18-49: 194,551 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$1.55 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:0.4% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Gambia, The
Disputes - international:attempts to stem refugees, cross-border raids, arms smuggling, andother illegal activities by separatists from southern Senegal'sCasamance region, as well as from conflicts in other west Africanstates
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
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@Gaza Strip
Introduction Gaza Strip
Background:The Israel-PLO Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-GovernmentArrangements (the DOP), signed in Washington on 13 September 1993,provided for a transitional period not exceeding five years ofPalestinian interim self-government in the Gaza Strip and the WestBank. Under the DOP, Israel agreed to transfer certain powers andresponsibilities to the Palestinian Authority (PA) as part of theinterim self-governing arrangements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.A transfer of powers and responsibilities for the Gaza Strip andJericho took place pursuant to the Israel-PLO 4 May 1994 CairoAgreement on the Gaza Strip and the Jericho Area and in additionalareas of the West Bank pursuant to the Israel-PLO 28 September 1995Interim Agreement, the Israel-PLO 15 January 1997 ProtocolConcerning Redeployment in Hebron, the Israel-PLO 23 October 1998Wye River Memorandum, and the 4 September 1999 Sharm el-SheikhAgreement. The DOP provides that Israel will retain responsibilityduring the transitional period for external and internal securityand for public order of settlements and Israeli citizens. Directnegotiations to determine the permanent status of Gaza and West Bankbegan in September 1999 after a three-year hiatus, but were derailedby a second intifadah that broke out in September 2000. In April2003 the Quartet (US, EU, UN, and Russia) presented a roadmap to afinal settlement of the conflict by 2005 based on reciprocal stepsby the two parties leading to two states, Israel and a democraticPalestine. The proposed date for a permanent status agreement hasbeen postponed indefinitely due to violence and accusations thatboth sides have not followed through on their commitments. LongtimePalestinian leader Yasir ARAFAT died in November 2004 and MahmudABBAS was elected PA president in January 2005, bringing hope of aturning point in the conflict. In February 2005 Israel and the PAagreed to the Sharm el-Sheikh Commitments, focused on securityissues, in an effort to move the peace process forward. Progress hasbeen slow because of different interpretations of the verbalagreement by the two sides. In September 2005, Israel withdrew allits settlers and soldiers and dismantled its military facilities inthe Gaza Strip and four northern West Bank settlements. Nonetheless,Israel controls maritime, airspace, and most access to the GazaStrip. An agreement signed by the PA and Israel in November 2005authorized the reopening of the Rafah border crossing between theGaza Strip and Egypt under joint PA and Egyptian control, withmonitoring provided by the EU.
Geography Gaza Strip
Location:Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt andIsrael
Geographic coordinates:31 25 N, 34 20 E
Map references:Middle East
Area:total: 360 sq kmland: 360 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 62 km border countries: Egypt 11 km, Israel 51 km
Coastline:40 km
Maritime claims:Israeli-occupied with current status subject to theIsraeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement - permanent status to bedetermined through further negotiation
Climate:temperate, mild winters, dry and warm to hot summers
Terrain:flat to rolling, sand- and dune-covered coastal plain
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Abu 'Awdah (Joz Abu 'Auda) 105 m
Natural resources: arable land, natural gas
Land use: arable land: 29% permanent crops: 21% other: 50% (2002)
Irrigated land:150 sq km; note - includes West Bank (2003)
Natural hazards:droughts
Environment - current issues:desertification; salination of fresh water; sewage treatment;water-borne disease; soil degradation; depletion and contaminationof underground water resources
Geography - note:strategic strip of land along Mideast-North African trade routeshas experienced an incredibly turbulent history; the town of Gazaitself has been besieged countless times in its history
People Gaza Strip
Population:1,428,757 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 48.1% (male 351,642/female 335,060)15-64 years: 49.4% (male 360,147/female 345,318)65 years and over: 2.6% (male 15,231/female 21,359) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 15.8 yearsmale: 15.7 yearsfemale: 16 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:3.71% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:39.45 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:3.8 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:1.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 22.4 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 23.48 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 21.27 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 71.97 yearsmale: 70.67 yearsfemale: 73.34 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:5.78 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality:noun: NAadjective: NA
Ethnic groups:Palestinian Arab and other 99.4%, Jewish 0.6%
Religions:Muslim (predominantly Sunni) 98.7%, Christian 0.7%, Jewish 0.6%
Languages:Arabic, Hebrew (spoken by many Palestinians), English (widelyunderstood)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 91.9%male: 96.3%female: 87.4% (2003 est.)
Government Gaza Strip
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Gaza Strip local long form: none local short form: Qita Ghazzah
Economy Gaza Strip
Economy - overview:High population density, limited land access, and strict internaland external controls have kept economic conditions in the GazaStrip - the smaller of the two areas under the Palestinian Authority(PA)- even more degraded than in the West Bank. The beginning of thesecond intifadah in September 2000 sparked an economic downturn,largely the result of Israeli closure policies; these policies,which were imposed in response to security interests in Israel,disrupted labor and commodity relationships with the Gaza Strip. In2001, and even more severely in 2003, Israeli military measures inPA areas resulted in the destruction of much capital plant, thedisruption of administrative structure, and widespread businessclosures. Including the West Bank, the UN estimates that more than100,000 Palestinians out of the 125,000 who used to work in Israelor in joint industrial zones have lost their jobs. Half the laborforce is unemployed. Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip inSeptember 2005 offers some medium-term opportunities for economicgrowth, especially given the removal of restrictions on internalmovement. In addition, recent agreements and continuing negotiationson the administration of Gaza's border crossings increase theprospects for trade.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$768 million (2003 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):NA
GDP - real growth rate:4.5% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$600 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 3% industry: 28.3% services: 68.7% (includes West Bank) (2002 est.)
Labor force: 278,000 (April-June 2005)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 11.9% industry: 18% services: 70.1% (2nd qtr. 2005)
Unemployment rate:31% (includes West Bank) (January-September 2005 avg.)
Population below poverty line:81% (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):7% (includes West Bank) (2003)
Budget:revenues: $964 millionexpenditures: $1.34 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA;note - these budget data include West Bank (2004)
Agriculture - products:olives, citrus, vegetables; beef, dairy products
Industries:generally small family businesses that produce textiles, soap,olive-wood carvings, and mother-of-pearl souvenirs; the Israelishave established some small-scale modern industries in an industrialcenter, but operations ceased prior to Israel's evacuation of GazaStrip settlements
Industrial production growth rate:NA%
Electricity - production:NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by the Gaza Strip power plantand by an Israeli utility
Electricity - consumption:NA kWh
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:NA kWh; note - some electricity supplied by an Israeli utility(2005)
Exports:$270 million f.o.b.; note - includes West Bank (2003)
Exports - commodities:citrus, flowers, textiles
Exports - partners:Israel, Egypt, West Bank (2004)
Imports:$1.952 billion c.i.f.; note - includes West Bank (2003)
Imports - commodities:food, consumer goods, construction materials
Imports - partners:Israel, Egypt, West Bank (2004)
Debt - external:$0; note - includes West Bank (2002)
Economic aid - recipient:$2 billion; note - includes West Bank (2004 est.)
Currency (code):new Israeli shekel (ILS)
Currency code:ILS
Exchange rates:new Israeli shekels per US dollar - 4.4877 (2005), 4.482 (2004),4.5541 (2003), 4.7378 (2002), 4.2057 (2001)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Gaza Strip
Telephones - main lines in use:349,000 (includes West Bank) (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:1.095 million (includes West Bank) (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: NAdomestic: Israeli company BEZEK and the Palestinian company PALTELare responsible for fixed line services in the Gaza Strip; thePalestinian JAWAL company provides cellular servicesinternational: country code - 970
Radio broadcast stations:AM 0, FM 8, shortwave 0 (2005)
Radios:NA; note - most Palestinian households have radios (1999)
Television broadcast stations:1 (2005)
Televisions:NA; note - most Palestinian households have televisions (1997)
Internet country code:.ps
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):3 (1999)
Internet users:243,000 (includes West Bank) (2005)
Transportation Gaza Strip
Airports:2note: includes Gaza International Airport closed since its runwaywas destroyed by the Israeli Defense Forces in December 2001 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 1over 3,047 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 1under 914 m: 1 (2006)
Heliports:1 (2006)
Roadways:note: see entry for West Bank
Ports and terminals:Gaza
Military Gaza Strip
Military branches:in accordance with the peace agreement, the Palestinian Authorityis not permitted conventional military forces; there are, however,public security forces (2002)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 260,855 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 221,530 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 15,196 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:NA
Transnational Issues Gaza Strip
Disputes - international:West Bank and Gaza Strip are Israeli-occupied with current statussubject to the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement - permanentstatus to be determined through further negotiation; Israel removedsettlers and military personnel from the Gaza Strip in August 2005
Refugees and internally displaced persons:refugees (country of origin): 986,034 (Palestinian Refugees(UNRWA)) (2005)
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
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@Georgia
Introduction Georgia
Background:The region of present-day Georgia contained the ancient kingdoms ofColchis and Kartli-Iberia. The area came under Roman influence inthe first centuries A.D. and Christianity became the state religionin the 330s. Domination by Persians, Arabs, and Turks was followedby a Georgian golden age (11th-13th centuries) that was cut short bythe Mongol invasion of 1236. Subsequently, the Ottoman and Persianempires competed for influence in the region. Georgia was absorbedinto the Russian Empire in the 19th century. Independent for threeyears (1918-1921) following the Russian revolution, it was forciblyincorporated into the USSR until the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991.An attempt by the incumbent Georgian government to manipulatenational legislative elections in November 2003 touched offwidespread protests that led to the resignation of EduardSHEVARDNADZE, president since 1995. New elections in early 2004swept Mikheil SAAKASHVILI into power along with his NationalMovement Party. Progress on market reforms and democratization hasbeen made in the years since independence, but this progress hasbeen complicated by two civil conflicts in the breakaway regions ofAbkhazia and South Ossetia. These two territories remain outside thecontrol of the central government and are ruled by de facto,unrecognized governments, supported by Russia. Russian-ledpeacekeeping operations continue in both regions. The GeorgianGovernment put forward a new peace initiative for the peacefulresolution of the status of South Ossetia in 2005.
Geography Georgia
Location:Southwestern Asia, bordering the Black Sea, between Turkey andRussia
Geographic coordinates:42 00 N, 43 30 E
Map references:Asia
Area:total: 69,700 sq kmland: 69,700 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than South Carolina
Land boundaries:total: 1,461 kmborder countries: Armenia 164 km, Azerbaijan 322 km, Russia 723 km,Turkey 252 km
Coastline:310 km
Maritime claims:NA
Climate:warm and pleasant; Mediterranean-like on Black Sea coast
Terrain:largely mountainous with Great Caucasus Mountains in the north andLesser Caucasus Mountains in the south; Kolkhet'is Dablobi (KolkhidaLowland) opens to the Black Sea in the west; Mtkvari River Basin inthe east; good soils in river valley flood plains, foothills ofKolkhida Lowland
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Black Sea 0 mhighest point: Mt'a Shkhara 5,201 m
Natural resources:forests, hydropower, manganese deposits, iron ore, copper, minorcoal and oil deposits; coastal climate and soils allow for importanttea and citrus growth
Land use:arable land: 11.51%permanent crops: 3.79%other: 84.7% (2005)
Irrigated land:4,690 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:earthquakes
Environment - current issues:air pollution, particularly in Rust'avi; heavy pollution of MtkvariRiver and the Black Sea; inadequate supplies of potable water; soilpollution from toxic chemicals
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, ClimateChange-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, ShipPollution, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:strategically located east of the Black Sea; Georgia controls muchof the Caucasus Mountains and the routes through them
People Georgia
Population:4,661,473 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 17.3% (male 428,056/female 380,193)15-64 years: 66.2% (male 1,482,908/female 1,602,064)65 years and over: 16.5% (male 308,905/female 459,347) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 37.7 yearsmale: 35.3 yearsfemale: 40.1 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:-0.34% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:10.41 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:9.23 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:-4.54 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.15 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.13 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 17.97 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 20.06 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 15.56 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 76.09 yearsmale: 72.8 yearsfemale: 79.87 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.42 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:3,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 200 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Georgian(s)adjective: Georgian
Ethnic groups:Georgian 83.8%, Azeri 6.5%, Armenian 5.7%, Russian 1.5%, other 2.5%(2002 census)
Religions:Orthodox Christian 83.9%, Muslim 9.9%, Armenian-Gregorian 3.9%,Catholic 0.8%, other 0.8%, none 0.7% (2002 census)
Languages:Georgian 71% (official), Russian 9%, Armenian 7%, Azeri 6%, other 7%note: Abkhaz is the official language in Abkhazia
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 100%male: 100%female: 100% (2004 est.)
Government Georgia
Country name:conventional long form: noneconventional short form: Georgialocal long form: nonelocal short form: Sak'art'veloformer: Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic
Government type:republic
Capital:name: T'bilisigeographic coordinates: 41 43 N, 44 49 Etime difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)
Administrative divisions:9 regions (mkharebi, singular - mkhare), 9 cities (k'alak'ebi,singular - k'alak'i), and 2 autonomous republics (avtomnoyrespubliki, singular - avtom respublika)regions: Guria, Imereti, Kakheti, Kvemo Kartli, Mtskheta-Mtianeti,Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti, Samegrelo and Zemo Svaneti,Samtskhe-Javakheti, Shida Kartlicities: Chiat'ura, Gori, K'ut'aisi, P'ot'i, Rust'avi, Tbilisi,Tqibuli, Tsqaltubo, Zugdidiautonomous republics: Abkhazia or Ap'khazet'is AvtonomiuriRespublika (Sokhumi), Ajaria or Acharis Avtonomiuri Respublika(Bat'umi)note: the administrative centers of the two autonomous republics areshown in parentheses
Independence:9 April 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday:Independence Day, 26 May (1918); note - 26 May 1918 is the date ofindependence from Soviet Russia, 9 April 1991 is the date ofindependence from the Soviet Union
Constitution:adopted 24 August 1995
Legal system:based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Mikheil SAAKASHVILI (since 25 January2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernment for the power ministries: state security (includesinterior) and defensehead of government: President Mikheil SAAKASHVILI (since 25 January2004); Prime Minister Zurab NOGHAIDELI (since 17 February 2005);note - the president is the chief of state and head of governmentfor the power ministries: state security (includes interior) anddefense; the prime minister is head of the remaining ministries ofgovernmentcabinet: Cabinet of Ministerselections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term(eligible for a second term); election last held 4 January 2004(next to be held in 2009)election results: Mikheil SAAKASHVILI elected president; percent ofvote - Mikheil SAAKASHVILI 96.3%, Temur SHASHIASHVILI 1.9%
Legislative branch:unicameral Supreme Council (commonly referred to as Parliament) orUmaghiesi Sabcho (235 seats - 150 elected by party lists); membersare elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)elections: last held 28 March 2004 (next to be held spring 2008)election results: percent of vote by party - NationalMovement-Democratic Front 67.6%, Rightist Opposition 7.6%, all otherparties received less than 7% each; seats by party - NationalMovement-Democratic Front 135, Rightist Opposition 15
Judicial branch:Supreme Court (judges elected by the Supreme Council on thepresident's or chairman of the Supreme Court's recommendation);Constitutional Court; first and second instance courts
Political parties and leaders:Burjanadze-Democrats [Nino BURJANADZE]; Georgian People's Front[Nodar NATADZE]; Georgian United Communist Party or UCPG[Panteleimon GIORGADZE]; Greens [Giorgi GACHECHILADZE]; IndustryWill Save Georgia (Industrialists) or IWSG [Georgi TOPADZE]; LaborParty [Shalva NATELASHVILI]; National Democratic Party or NDP[Bachuki KARDAVA]; National Movement Democratic Front [MikheilSAAKASHVILI] bloc composed of National Movement andBurjanadze-Democrats; National Movement [Mikheil SAAKASHVILI]; NewRights [David GAMKRELIDZE]; Republican Party [David USUPASHVILI];Rightist Opposition [David GAMKRELIDZE] bloc composed ofIndustrialists and New Right Party; Socialist Party or SPG [IrakliMINDELI]; Traditionalists [Akaki ASATIANI]; Union of NationalForces-Conservatives [Koba DAVITASHVILI and Zviad DZIDZIGURI]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Georgian independent deputies from Abkhaz government in exile;separatists in the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia;supporters of former President Zviad GAMSAKHURDYA ousted in 1991
International organization participation:ACCT (observer), BSEC, CE, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, GUAM, IAEA, IBRD,ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, OAS(observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SECI (observer), UN,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Vasil SIKHARULIDZE chancery: 1101 15th Street NW, Suite 602, Washington, DC 20005 telephone: [1] (202) 387-2390 FAX: [1] (202) 393-4537
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador John F. TEFFT embassy: 11 George Balanchine St., T'bilisi 0131 mailing address: 7060 T'bilisi Place, Washington, DC 20521-7060 telephone: [995] (32) 27-70-00 FAX: [995] (32) 53-23-10
Flag description:white rectangle, in its central portion a red cross connecting allfour sides of the flag; in each of the four corners is a small redbolnur-katskhuri cross; the five-cross flag appears to date back tothe 14th century
Economy Georgia
Economy - overview:Georgia's main economic activities include the cultivation ofagricultural products such as grapes, citrus fruits, and hazelnuts;mining of manganese and copper; and output of a small industrialsector producing alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages, metals,machinery, and chemicals. The country imports the bulk of its energyneeds, including natural gas and oil products. It has sizeable butunderdeveloped hydropower capacity. Despite the severe damage theeconomy has suffered due to civil strife, Georgia, with the help ofthe IMF and World Bank, has made substantial economic gains since2000, achieving positive GDP growth and curtailing inflation.Georgia had suffered from a chronic failure to collect tax revenues;however, the new government is making progress and has reformed thetax code, improved tax administration, increased tax enforcement,and cracked down on corruption. In addition, the reinvigoratedprivatization process has met with success, supplementing governmentexpenditures on infrastructure, defense, and poverty reduction.Despite customs and financial (tax) enforcement improvements,smuggling is a drain on the economy. Georgia also suffers fromenergy shortages due to aging and badly maintained infrastructure,as well as poor management. Due to concerted reform efforts,collection rates have improved considerably to roughly 60%, both inT'bilisi and throughout the regions. Continued reform in themanagement of state-owned power entities is essential to successfulprivatization and onward sustainability in this sector. The countryis pinning its hopes for long-term growth on its role as a transitstate for pipelines and trade. The construction on theBaku-T'bilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline and the Baku-T'bilisi-Erzerum gaspipeline have brought much-needed investment and job opportunities.Nevertheless, high energy prices in 2006 will compound the pressureon the country's inefficient energy sector. Restructuring the sectorand finding energy supply alternatives to Russia remain majorchallenges.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$16.03 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$6.4 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:9.3% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$3,400 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 17.2% industry: 27.5% services: 55.3% (2005 est.)
Labor force: 2.04 million (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 40% industry: 20% services: 40% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:12.6% (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:54% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.3% highest 10%: 27.9% (1996)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:38 (2003)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):8.2% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):24% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:revenues: $1.43 billionexpenditures: $1.56 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA(2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:citrus, grapes, tea, hazelnuts, vegetables; livestock
Industries:steel, aircraft, machine tools, electrical appliances, mining(manganese and copper), chemicals, wood products, wine
Industrial production growth rate:3% (2000)
Electricity - production:8.634 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 19.7% hydro: 80.3% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:9.8 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity - exports:71 million kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:1.2 billion kWh (2004)
Oil - production:1,982 bbl/day (2003)
Oil - consumption:13,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:NA bbl/day
Natural gas - production:20 million cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:1.5 billion cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - exports:NA cu m
Natural gas - imports:1.5 billion cu m (2005 est.)
Current account balance:$-625 million (2005 est.)
Exports:$1.4 billion (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:scrap metal, machinery, chemicals; fuel reexports; citrus fruits,tea, wine
Exports - partners:Russia 18.1%, Turkey 14.3%, Azerbaijan 9.8%, Turkmenistan 8.9%,Bulgaria 5%, Armenia 4.7%, Ukraine 4.4%, Canada 4.2% (2005)
Imports:$2.5 billion (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:fuels, machinery and parts, transport equipment, grain and otherfoods, pharmaceuticals
Imports - partners:Russia 15.4%, Turkey 11.4%, Azerbaijan 9.4%, Ukraine 8.8%, Germany8.3%, US 6% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$474.2 million (2005 est.)
Debt - external:$2.04 billion (2004)
Economic aid - recipient:ODA, $150 million (2000 est.)
Currency (code):lari (GEL)