Economy Gibraltar
Economy - overview:Self-sufficient Gibraltar benefits from an extensive shippingtrade, offshore banking, and its position as an internationalconference center. The British military presence has been sharplyreduced and now contributes about 7% to the local economy, comparedwith 60% in 1984. The financial sector, tourism (almost 5 millionvisitors in 1998), shipping services fees, and duties on consumergoods also generate revenue. The financial sector, the shippingsector, and tourism each contribute 25%-30% of GDP.Telecommunications accounts for another 10%. In recent years,Gibraltar has seen major structural change from a public to aprivate sector economy, but changes in government spending stillhave a major impact on the level of employment.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$769 million (2000 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):NA
GDP - real growth rate:NA%
GDP - per capita (PPP):$27,900 (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Labor force: 12,690 (including non-Gibraltar laborers) (2001)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: negligible industry: 40% services: 60%
Unemployment rate:2% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):1.5% (1998)
Budget:revenues: $307 millionexpenditures: $284 million; including capital expenditures of $NA(FY00/01 est.)
Agriculture - products:none
Industries:tourism, banking and finance, ship repairing, tobacco
Industrial production growth rate:NA%
Electricity - production:106.1 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:98.69 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2003)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - consumption:23,500 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.)
Exports:$271 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:(principally reexports) petroleum 51%, manufactured goods 41%,other 8%
Exports - partners:UK 30.8%, Spain 22.7%, Germany 13.7%, Turkmenistan 10.4%,Switzerland 8.3%, Italy 6.7% (2005)
Imports:$2.967 billion c.i.f. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:fuels, manufactured goods, and foodstuffs
Imports - partners:Spain 23.4%, Russia 12.3%, Italy 12%, UK 9%, France 8.9%,Netherlands 6.8%, US 4.7% (2005)
Debt - external:$NA (2000 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$NA
Currency (code):Gibraltar pound (GIP)
Currency code:GIP
Exchange rates:Gibraltar pounds per US dollar - 0.55 (2005), 0.5462 (2004), 0.6125(2003), 0.6672 (2002), 0.6947 (2001)note: the Gibraltar pound is at par with the British pound
Fiscal year:1 July - 30 June
Communications Gibraltar
Telephones - main lines in use:24,512 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:9,797 (2002)
Telephone system:general assessment: adequate, automatic domestic system andadequate international facilitiesdomestic: automatic exchange facilitiesinternational: country code - 350; radiotelephone; microwave radiorelay; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:37,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:1 (plus three low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:10,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.gi
Internet hosts:641 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):2 (2000)
Internet users:6,200 (2002)
Transportation Gibraltar
Airports: 1 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)
Roadways:total: 29 kmpaved: 29 km (2002)
Merchant marine:total: 180 ships (1000 GRT or over) 1,129,379 GRT/1,437,754 DWTby type: barge carrier 3, bulk carrier 1, cargo 105, chemical tanker26, container 26, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 11, roll on/roll off6, specialized tanker 1foreign-owned: 165 (Belgium 2, Cyprus 1, Denmark 1, Finland 3,France 1, Germany 108, Greece 7, Iceland 1, Ireland 1, Italy 6,Latvia 2, Netherlands 5, Norway 18, Sweden 5, UK 4) (2006)
Ports and terminals:Gibraltar
Military Gibraltar
Military branches:Royal Gibraltar Regiment
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 5,959 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 4,893 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 187 (2005 est.)
Military - note:defense is the responsibility of the UK; the last British regularinfantry forces left Gibraltar in 1992, replaced by the RoyalGibraltar Regiment
Transnational Issues Gibraltar
Disputes - international:in 2002, Gibraltar residents voted overwhelmingly by referendum toreject any "shared sovereignty" arrangement; the government ofGibraltar insists on equal participation in talks between the UK andSpain; Spain disapproves of UK plans to grant Gibraltar even greaterautonomy
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
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@Greece
Introduction Greece
Background:Greece achieved independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1829.During the second half of the 19th century and the first half of the20th century, it gradually added neighboring islands andterritories, most with Greek-speaking populations. In World War II,Greece was first invaded by Italy (1940) and subsequently occupiedby Germany (1941-44); fighting endured in a protracted civil warbetween supporters of the king and Communist rebels. Following thelatter's defeat in 1949, Greece joined NATO in 1952. A militarydictatorship, which in 1967 suspended many political liberties andforced the king to flee the country, lasted seven years. The 1974democratic elections and a referendum created a parliamentaryrepublic and abolished the monarchy. In 1981 Greece joined the EC(now the EU); it became the 12th member of the euro zone in 2001.
Geography Greece
Location:Southern Europe, bordering the Aegean Sea, Ionian Sea, and theMediterranean Sea, between Albania and Turkey
Geographic coordinates:39 00 N, 22 00 E
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 131,940 sq kmland: 130,800 sq kmwater: 1,140 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Alabama
Land boundaries:total: 1,228 kmborder countries: Albania 282 km, Bulgaria 494 km, Turkey 206 km,Macedonia 246 km
Coastline:13,676 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:temperate; mild, wet winters; hot, dry summers
Terrain:mostly mountains with ranges extending into the sea as peninsulasor chains of islands
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 mhighest point: Mount Olympus 2,917 m
Natural resources:lignite, petroleum, iron ore, bauxite, lead, zinc, nickel,magnesite, marble, salt, hydropower potential
Land use: arable land: 20.45% permanent crops: 8.59% other: 70.96% (2005)
Irrigated land:14,530 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:severe earthquakes
Environment - current issues:air pollution; water pollution
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, AirPollution-Sulfur 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol,Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity,Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification,Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes,Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, ShipPollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent OrganicPollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds
Geography - note:strategic location dominating the Aegean Sea and southern approachto Turkish Straits; a peninsular country, possessing an archipelagoof about 2,000 islands
People Greece
Population:10,688,058 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 14.3% (male 790,291/female 742,902)15-64 years: 66.7% (male 3,562,251/female 3,566,097)65 years and over: 19% (male 891,620/female 1,134,897) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 40.8 yearsmale: 39.7 yearsfemale: 42 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:0.18% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:9.68 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:10.24 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:2.34 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.06 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 5.43 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 5.97 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 4.86 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 79.24 yearsmale: 76.72 yearsfemale: 81.91 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.34 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.2% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:9,100 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 100 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Greek(s)adjective: Greek
Ethnic groups:Greek 98%, Turkish and other 2%note: the Greek Government states there are no ethnic divisions inGreece
Religions:Greek Orthodox 98%, Muslim 1.3%, other 0.7%
Languages:Greek 99% (official), English, French
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 97.5%male: 98.6%female: 96.5% (2003 est.)
People - note:women, men, and children are trafficked to and within Greece forthe purposes of sexual exploitation and forced labor
Government Greece
Country name:conventional long form: Hellenic Republicconventional short form: Greecelocal long form: Elliniki Dhimokratialocal short form: Ellas or Elladaformer: Kingdom of Greece
Government type:parliamentary republic
Capital:name: Athensgeographic coordinates: 37 59 N, 23 44 Etime difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends lastSunday in October
Administrative divisions:51 prefectures (nomoi, singular - nomos) and 1 autonomous region*;Achaia, Agion Oros* (Mt. Athos), Aitolia kai Akarnania, Argolis,Arkadia, Arta, Attiki, Chalkidiki, Chanion, Chios, Dodekanisos,Drama, Evros, Evrytania, Evvoia, Florina, Fokidos, Fthiotis,Grevena, Ileia, Imathia, Ioannina, Irakleion, Karditsa, Kastoria,Kavala, Kefallinia, Kerkyra, Kilkis, Korinthia, Kozani, Kyklades,Lakonia, Larisa, Lasithi, Lefkas, Lesvos, Magnisia, Messinia, Pella,Pieria, Preveza, Rethynnis, Rodopi, Samos, Serrai, Thesprotia,Thessaloniki, Trikala, Voiotia, Xanthi, Zakynthos
Independence:1829 (from the Ottoman Empire)
National holiday:Independence Day, 25 March (1821)
Constitution:11 June 1975; amended March 1986 and April 2001
Legal system:based on codified Roman law; judiciary divided into civil,criminal, and administrative courts; accepts compulsory ICJjurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:chief of state: President Karolos PAPOULIAS (since 12 March 2005)head of government: Prime Minister Konstandinos (Kostas) KARAMANLIS(since 7 March 2004)cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation ofthe prime ministerelections: president elected by parliament for a five-year term(eligible for a second term); election last held 8 February 2005(next to be held by February 2010); according to the GreekConstitution, presidents may only serve two terms; presidentappoints leader of the party securing plurality of vote in electionto become prime minister and form a governmentelection results: Karolos PAPOULIAS elected president; number ofparlimentary votes, 279 out of 300
Legislative branch:unicameral Parliament or Vouli ton Ellinon (300 seats; members areelected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms)elections: elections last held 7 March 2004 (next to be held byMarch 2008)election results: percent of vote by party - ND 45.4%, PASOK 40.6%,KKE 5.9%, Synaspismos 3.3%; seats by party - ND 165, PASOK 117, KKE12, Synaspismos 6
Judicial branch:Supreme Judicial Court; Special Supreme Tribunal; all judgesappointed for life by the president after consultation with ajudicial council
Political parties and leaders:Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) [Alekos ALAVANOS];Communist Party of Greece or KKE [Aleka PAPARIGA]; New Democracy orND (conservative) [Konstandinos KARAMANLIS]; Panhellenic SocialistMovement or PASOK [Yiorgos PAPANDREOU]; Popular Orthodox Rally orLAOS [Yeoryios KARATZAFERIS]
Political pressure groups and leaders:General Confederation of Greek Workers or GSEE [KhristosPOLYZOGOPOULOS]; Federation of Greek Industries or SEV [OdysseasKYRIAKOPOULOS]; Civil Servants Confederation or ADEDY [SpyrosPAPASPYROS]
International organization participation:Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, EU,FAO, G- 6, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD,IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU,MIGA, MINURSO, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD,OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, SECI, UN, UN Security Council (temporary),UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIS, UNOMIG, UPU, WCO, WEU,WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Alexandros P. MALLIASchancery: 2221 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone: [1] (202) 939-1300FAX: [1] (202) 939-1324consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, SanFrancisco, Tampaconsulate(s): Atlanta, Houston, New Orleans
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Charles P. RIES embassy: 91 Vasilisis Sophias Avenue, 10160 Athens mailing address: PSC 108, APO AE 09842-0108 telephone: [30] (210) 721-2951 FAX: [30] (210) 645-6282 consulate(s) general: Thessaloniki
Flag description:nine equal horizontal stripes of blue alternating with white; thereis a blue square in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a whitecross; the cross symbolizes Greek Orthodoxy, the establishedreligion of the country
Economy Greece
Economy - overview:Greece has a capitalist economy with the public sector accountingfor about 40% of GDP and with per capita GDP at least 75% of theleading euro-zone economies. Tourism provides 15% of GDP. Immigrantsmake up nearly one-fifth of the work force, mainly in menial jobs.Greece is a major beneficiary of EU aid, equal to about 3.3% ofannual GDP. The Greek economy grew by about 4.0% for the between2003 and 2005, largely because of an investment boom andinfrastructure upgrades for the 2004 Athens Olympic Games. Economicgrowth slowed to about 3% in 2005. Greece has not met the EU'sGrowth and Stability Pact budget deficit criteria of 3% of GDP since2000. Public debt, inflation, and unemployment are above theeuro-zone average. To overcome these challenges, the GreekGovernment is expected to continue cutting government spending,reducing the size of the public sector, and reforming the labor andpension systems.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$238.2 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$209.7 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:3.7% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$22,300 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 5.4% industry: 21.3% services: 73.3% (2005 est.)
Labor force: 4.72 million (2005 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 12% industry: 20% services: 68% (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate:9.9% (2005 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: 3%highest 10%: 28.3% (1998 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:35.1 (2003)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):3.5% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):24.6% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:revenues: $94.13 billionexpenditures: $103.4 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA(2005 est.)
Public debt:106.8% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:wheat, corn, barley, sugar beets, olives, tomatoes, wine, tobacco,potatoes; beef, dairy products
Industries:tourism, food and tobacco processing, textiles, chemicals, metalproducts; mining, petroleum
Industrial production growth rate:-0.3% (2005 est.)
Electricity - production:54.56 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 94.5% hydro: 3.8% nuclear: 0% other: 1.7% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:53.5 billion kWh (2005 est.)
Electricity - exports:2.1 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:4.2 billion kWh (2002)
Oil - production:5,805 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - consumption:435,700 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - exports:84,720 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:468,300 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:4.5 million bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:27 million cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:2.34 billion cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:2.018 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:991.1 million cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:$-17.86 billion (2005 est.)
Exports:$18.54 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:food and beverages, manufactured goods, petroleum products,chemicals, textiles
Exports - partners:Germany 12.4%, Italy 10.4%, UK 6.7%, Bulgaria 5.9%, US 5.3%, Cyprus5.2%, Turkey 5.1%, France 4.2% (2005)
Imports:$48.2 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery, transport equipment, fuels, chemicals
Imports - partners:Germany 12.7%, Italy 12.4%, Russia 7.8%, France 5.7%, Netherlands5.5%, Saudi Arabia 4.1% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$2.287 billion (2005 est.)
Debt - external:$75.18 billion (2005 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$8 billion from EU (2000-06)
Currency (code):euro (EUR)note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced theeuro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions ofmember countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the solecurrency for everyday transactions within the member countries
Currency code:EUR
Exchange rates:euros per US dollar - 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003),1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Greece
Telephones - main lines in use:6.303 million (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:10.043 million (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: adequate, modern networks reach all areas; goodmobile telephone and international servicedomestic: microwave radio relay trunk system; extensive open-wireconnections; submarine cable to offshore islandsinternational: country code - 30; tropospheric scatter; 8 submarinecables; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and1 Indian Ocean), 1 Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Indian Ocean region)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 26, FM 88, shortwave 4 (1998)
Radios:5.02 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:36 (plus 1,341 low-power repeaters); also two stations in the USArmed Forces Radio and Television Service (1995)
Televisions:2.54 million (1997)
Internet country code:.gr
Internet hosts:587,717 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):27 (2000)
Internet users:3.8 million (2005)
Transportation Greece
Airports: 82 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 66 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 16 1,524 to 2,437 m: 19 914 to 1,523 m: 17 under 914 m: 9 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 16 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 13 (2006)
Heliports:8 (2006)
Pipelines:gas 1,166 km; oil 94 km (2006)
Railways:total: 2,571 kmstandard gauge: 1,565 km 1.435-m gauge (764 km electrified)narrow gauge: 961 km 1.000-m gauge; 22 km 0.750-m gaugedual gauge: 23 km combined 1.435 m and 1.000-m gauges (three railsystem) (2005)
Roadways:total: 116,470 kmpaved: 106,920 km (including 880 km of expressways)unpaved: 9,550 km (1999)
Waterways:6 kmnote: Corinth Canal (6 km) crosses the Isthmus of Corinth; shortenssea voyage by 325 km (2006)
Merchant marine:total: 817 ships (1000 GRT or over) 31,895,832 GRT/54,341,584 DWTby type: bulk carrier 270, cargo 61, chemical tanker 47, container47, liquefied gas 5, passenger 11, passenger/cargo 114, petroleumtanker 244, roll on/roll off 17, specialized tanker 1foreign-owned: 24 (Belgium 12, Cyprus 1, Hong Kong 1, UK 9, US 1)registered in other countries: 2,363 (Bahamas 232, Barbados 11,Belgium 4, Belize 2, Bermuda 2, Cambodia 8, Cayman Islands 21,Comoros 10, Cyprus 337, Denmark 5, Dominica 5, Egypt 6, Georgia 8,Gibraltar 7, Honduras 3, Hong Kong 27, Isle of Man 45, Italy 6,Jamaica 6, North Korea 1, Lebanon 3, Liberia 267, Malta 495,Marshall Islands 199, Norway 1, Panama 524, Philippines 5, Portugal4, Russia 1, Saint Kitts and Nevis 1, Saint Vincent and theGrenadines 82, Sao Tome and Principe 1, Singapore 9, Slovakia 4, UAE2, UK 7, Uruguay 1, US 1, Venezuela 3, unknown 7) (2006)
Ports and terminals:Agioitheodoroi, Aspropyrgos, Irakleion, Pachi, Piraeus, Thessaloniki
Military Greece
Military branches:Hellenic Army (Ellinikos Stratos, ES), Hellenic Navy (EllinikosPolemiko Navtiko, EPN), Hellenic Air Force (Elliniki PolimikiAeroporia, EPA) (2006)
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for compulsory military service; during wartime the law allows for recruitment beginning January of the year of inductee's 18th birthday, thus including 17 year olds; 17 years of age for volunteers; conscript service obligation - 12 months for the Army, Air Force; 15 months for Navy; women are eligible for military service (2005)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 2,459,988females age 18-49: 2,442,818 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 2,018,557females age 18-49: 2,000,650 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 58,399females age 18-49: 55,571 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$5.89 billion (2004)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:4.3% (2003)
Transnational Issues Greece
Disputes - international:Greece and Turkey continue discussions to resolve their complexmaritime, air, territorial, and boundary disputes in the Aegean Sea;Cyprus question with Turkey; Greece rejects the use of the nameMacedonia or Republic of Macedonia
Illicit drugs:a gateway to Europe for traffickers smuggling cannabis and heroinfrom the Middle East and Southwest Asia to the West and precursorchemicals to the East; some South American cocaine transits or isconsumed in Greece; money laundering related to drug trafficking andorganized crime
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
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@Greenland
Introduction Greenland
Background:Greenland, the world's largest island, is about 81% ice-capped.Vikings reached the island in the 10th century from Iceland; Danishcolonization began in the 18th century, and Greenland was made anintegral part of Denmark in 1953. It joined the European Community(now the EU) with Denmark in 1973 but withdrew in 1985 over adispute over stringent fishing quotas. Greenland was grantedself-government in 1979 by the Danish parliament. The law went intoeffect the following year. Denmark continues to exercise control ofGreenland's foreign affairs.
Geography Greenland
Location:Northern North America, island between the Arctic Ocean and theNorth Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Canada
Geographic coordinates:72 00 N, 40 00 W
Map references:Arctic Region
Area:total: 2,166,086 sq kmland: 2,166,086 sq km (410,449 sq km ice-free, 1,755,637 sq kmice-covered) (2000 est.)
Area - comparative:slightly more than three times the size of Texas
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:44,087 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 3 nmcontinental shelf: 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median lineexclusive fishing zone: 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line
Climate:arctic to subarctic; cool summers, cold winters
Terrain:flat to gradually sloping icecap covers all but a narrow,mountainous, barren, rocky coast
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 mhighest point: Gunnbjorn 3,700 m
Natural resources:coal, iron ore, lead, zinc, molybdenum, gold, platinum, uranium,fish, seals, whales, hydropower, possible oil and gas
Land use:arable land: 0%permanent crops: 0%other: 100% (2005)
Irrigated land:NA
Natural hazards:continuous permafrost over northern two-thirds of the island
Environment - current issues:protection of the arctic environment; preservation of the Inuittraditional way of life, including whaling and seal hunting
Geography - note:dominates North Atlantic Ocean between North America and Europe;sparse population confined to small settlements along coast, butclose to one-quarter of the population lives in the capital, Nuuk;world's second largest ice cap
People Greenland
Population:56,361 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 24.5% (male 7,072/female 6,740)15-64 years: 68.9% (male 20,904/female 17,919)65 years and over: 6.6% (male 1,768/female 1,958) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 34 yearsmale: 35.3 yearsfemale: 32.3 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:-0.03% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:15.93 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:7.84 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:-8.37 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.02 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.17 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.12 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 15.4 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 16.73 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 14.03 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 69.94 yearsmale: 66.36 yearsfemale: 73.6 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.4 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:100 (1999)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality:noun: Greenlander(s)adjective: Greenlandic
Ethnic groups:Greenlander 88% (Inuit and Greenland-born whites), Danish andothers 12% (2000)
Religions:Evangelical Lutheran
Languages:Greenlandic (East Inuit), Danish, English
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 100%male: 100%female: 100% (2001 est.)
Government Greenland
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Greenland local long form: none local short form: Kalaallit Nunaat
Dependency status:part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseasadministrative division of Denmark since 1979
Government type:parliamentary democracy within a constitutional monarchy
Capital:name: Nuuk (Godthab)geographic coordinates: 64 11 N, 51 44 Wtime difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends lastSunday in Octobernote: Greenland is divided into four time zones
Administrative divisions:3 districts (landsdele); Avannaa (Nordgronland), Tunu(Ostgronland), Kitaa (Vestgronland)note: there are 18 municipalities in Greenland
Independence:none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; foreign affairs is theresponsibility of Denmark, but Greenland actively participates ininternational agreements relating to Greenland)
National holiday:June 21 (longest day)
Constitution:5 June 1953 (Danish constitution)
Legal system:Danish
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since 14 January1972), represented by High Commissioner Soren MOLLER (since April2005)head of government: Prime Minister Hans ENOKSEN (since 14 December2002)cabinet: Home Rule Government is elected by the parliament(Landstinget) on the basis of the strength of partieselections: the monarchy is hereditary; high commissioner appointedby the monarch; prime minister is elected by parliament (usually theleader of the majority party); election last held 3 December 2002(next to be held December 2006)election results: Hans ENOKSEN elected prime ministernote: government coalition - Siumut and Inuit Ataqatigiit
Legislative branch:unicameral Parliament or Landstinget (31 seats; members are electedby popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to servefour-year terms)elections: last held on 15 November 2005 (next to be held byDecember 2009)election results: percent of vote by party - Siumut 30.7%,Demokratiit 22.8%, Inuit Ataqatigiit 22.6%, Atassut Party 19.1%;Katusseqatigiit 4.1%, other 0.7%; seats by party - Siumut 10,Demokratiit 7, Inuit Ataqatigiit 7, Atassut 6, Katusseqatigiit 1note: two representatives were elected to the Danish Parliament orFolketing on 8 February 2005 (next to be held February 2009);percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Siumut 1, InuitAtaqatigiit 1
Judicial branch:High Court or Landsret (appeals can be made to the Ostre Landsretor Eastern Division of the High Court or Supreme Court in Copenhagen)
Political parties and leaders:Atassut Party (Solidarity, a conservative party favoring continuingclose relations with Denmark) [Finn KARLSEN]; Demokratiit [PerBERTHELSEN]; Inuit Ataqatigiit or IA (Eskimo Brotherhood, a leftistparty favoring complete independence from Denmark rather than homerule) [Josef MOTZFELDT]; Issituup (Polar Party) [Nicolai HEINRICH];Kattusseqatigiit (Candidate List, an independent right-of-centerparty with no official platform; Siumut (Forward Party, a socialdemocratic party advocating more distinct Greenlandic identity andgreater autonomy from Denmark) [Hans ENOKSEN]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:Arctic Council, NC, NIB, UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
Diplomatic representation from the US:none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
Flag description:two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red with a large diskslightly to the hoist side of center - the top half of the disk isred, the bottom half is white
Economy Greenland
Economy - overview:The economy remains critically dependent on exports of fish andsubstantial support from the Danish Government, which supplies abouthalf of government revenues. The public sector, includingpublicly-owned enterprises and the municipalities, plays thedominant role in the economy. Despite several interestinghydrocarbon and mineral exploration activities, it will take anumber of years before production can materialize. Tourism is theonly sector offering any near-term potential, and even this islimited due to a short season and high costs.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$1.1 billion (2001 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):NA
GDP - real growth rate:1.8% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$20,000 (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Labor force:24,500 (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:10% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):1.6% (1999 est.)
Budget:revenues: $646 millionexpenditures: $629 million; including capital expenditures of $85million (1999)
Agriculture - products:forage crops, garden and greenhouse vegetables; sheep, reindeer;fish
Industries:fish processing (mainly shrimp and Greenland halibut); gold,niobium, tantalite, uranium, iron and diamond mining; handicrafts,hides and skins, small shipyards
Industrial production growth rate:NA%
Electricity - production:242.2 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source:fossil fuel: 100%hydro: 0%nuclear: 0%other: 0%note: Greenland is shifting its electricity production from fossilfuel to hydropower production (2001)
Electricity - consumption:225.3 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2003)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - consumption:3,850 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.)
Exports:$480 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:fish and fish products 94% (prawns 63%)
Exports - partners:Denmark 62.5%, Japan 12.3%, China 5.3% (2005)
Imports:$601 million c.i.f. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food,petroleum products
Imports - partners:Denmark 66.8%, Sweden 19.3%, Ireland 3.6% (2005)
Debt - external:$25 million (1999)
Economic aid - recipient:$380 million subsidy from Denmark (1997)
Currency (code):Danish krone (DKK)
Currency code:DKK
Exchange rates:Danish kroner per US dollar - 5.9969 (2005), 5.9911 (2004), 6.5877(2003), 7.8947 (2002), 8.3228 (2001)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Greenland
Telephones - main lines in use:25,300 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:32,200 (2004)
Telephone system:general assessment: adequate domestic and international serviceprovided by satellite, cables and microwave radio relay; totallydigitalized in 1995domestic: microwave radio relay and satelliteinternational: country code - 299; satellite earth stations - 12Intelsat, 1 Eutelsat, 2 Americom GE-2 (all Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 5, FM 12, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:30,000 (1998 est.)
Television broadcast stations:1 publicly-owned station, some local low-power stations, and threeAFRTS (US Air Force) stations (1997)
Televisions:30,000 (1998 est.)
Internet country code:.gl
Internet hosts:8,851 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2000)
Internet users:38,000 (2005)
Transportation Greenland
Airports:14 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 92,438 to 3,047 m: 21,524 to 2,437 m: 1914 to 1,523 m: 1under 914 m: 5 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 51,524 to 2,437 m: 1914 to 1,523 m: 2under 914 m: 2 (2006)
Roadways:total: NAnote: while there are short roads in towns, there are no roadsbetween towns; inter-town transport takes place either by sea or air(2005)
Merchant marine:total: 3 ships (1000 GRT or over) 5,540 GRT/2,540 DWTby type: cargo 1, passenger 2registered in other countries: 2 (Cyprus 1, Denmark 1) (2006)
Ports and terminals:Sisimiut
Military Greenland
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 14,653 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 10,199 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 440 (2005 est.)
Military - note:defense is the responsibility of Denmark
Transnational Issues Greenland
Disputes - international: managed dispute between Canada and Denmark over Hans Island in the Kennedy Channel between Canada's Ellesmere Island and Greenland
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
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@Grenada
Introduction Grenada
Background:Carib Indians inhabited Grenada when COLUMBUS discovered the islandin 1498, but it remained uncolonized for more than a century. TheFrench settled Grenada in the 17th century, established sugarestates, and imported large numbers of African slaves. Britain tookthe island in 1762 and vigorously expanded sugar production. In the19th century, cacao eventually surpassed sugar as the main exportcrop; in the 20th century, nutmeg became the leading export. In1967, Britain gave Grenada autonomy over its internal affairs. Fullindependence was attained in 1974 making Grenada one of the smallestindependent countries in the Western Hemisphere. Grenada was seizedby a Marxist military council on 19 October 1983. Six days later theisland was invaded by US forces and those of six other Caribbeannations, which quickly captured the ringleaders and their hundredsof Cuban advisers. Free elections were reinstituted the followingyear and have continued since that time. Hurricane Ivan struckGrenada in September of 2004 causing severe damage.
Geography Grenada
Location:Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean,north of Trinidad and Tobago
Geographic coordinates:12 07 N, 61 40 W
Map references:Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total: 344 sq kmland: 344 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:121 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical; tempered by northeast trade winds
Terrain:volcanic in origin with central mountains
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Saint Catherine 840 m
Natural resources: timber, tropical fruit, deepwater harbors
Land use: arable land: 5.88% permanent crops: 29.41% other: 64.71% (2005)
Irrigated land:NA
Natural hazards:lies on edge of hurricane belt; hurricane season lasts from June toNovember
Environment - current issues:NA
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, OzoneLayer Protection, Whalingsigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:the administration of the islands of the Grenadines group isdivided between Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada
People Grenada
Population:89,703 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 33.4% (male 15,097/female 14,820)15-64 years: 63.4% (male 30,106/female 26,764)65 years and over: 3.3% (male 1,394/female 1,522) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 21.7 yearsmale: 22.1 yearsfemale: 21.2 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:0.26% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:22.08 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:6.88 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:-12.59 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.13 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.92 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.08 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 14.27 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 13.87 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 14.67 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 64.87 yearsmale: 63.06 yearsfemale: 66.68 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.34 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: Grenadian(s)adjective: Grenadian
Ethnic groups:black 82%, mixed black and European 13%, European and East Indian5%, and trace of Arawak/Carib Amerindian
Religions:Roman Catholic 53%, Anglican 13.8%, other Protestant 33.2%
Languages:English (official), French patois
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 96%male: NA%female: NA% (2003 est.)
Government Grenada
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Grenada
Government type:parliamentary democracy
Capital:name: Saint George'sgeographic coordinates: 12 03 N, 61 45 Wtime difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)
Administrative divisions:6 parishes and 1 dependency*; Carriacou and Petit Martinique*,Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Mark,Saint Patrick
Independence:7 February 1974 (from UK)
National holiday:Independence Day, 7 February (1974)
Constitution:19 December 1973
Legal system:based on English common law
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),represented by Governor General Daniel WILLIAMS (since 9 August 1996)head of government: Prime Minister Keith MITCHELL (since 22 June1995)cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice ofthe prime ministerelections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor generalappointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, theleader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalitionis usually appointed prime minister by the governor general
Legislative branch:bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (a 13-member body, 10appointed by the government and 3 by the leader of the opposition)and the House of Representatives (15 seats; members are elected bypopular vote to serve five-year terms)elections: last held on 27 November 2003 (next to be held byNovember 2008)election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote byparty - NNP 46.65%, NDC 44.12%; seats by party - NNP 8, NDC 7
Judicial branch:Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, consisting of a court of Appealand a High Court of Justice (a High Court judge is assigned to andresides in Grenada)
Political parties and leaders:Good Old Democracy or GOD [Justin MCBURNIE]; Grenada United LaborParty or GULP [Gloria Payne BANFIELD]; National Democratic Congressor NDC [Tillman THOMAS]; New National Party or NNP [Keith MITCHELL];People Labor Movement or PLM [Dr. Francis ALEXIS]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber),ITU, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Denis G. ANTOINE chancery: 1701 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 265-2561 FAX: [1] (202) 265-2468 consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited toGrenadaembassy: Lance-aux-Epines Stretch, Saint George'smailing address: P. O. Box 54, Saint George'stelephone: [1] (473) 444-1173 through 1176FAX: [1] (473) 444-4820
Flag description:a rectangle divided diagonally into yellow triangles (top andbottom) and green triangles (hoist side and outer side), with a redborder around the flag; there are seven yellow, five-pointed starswith three centered in the top red border, three centered in thebottom red border, and one on a red disk superimposed at the centerof the flag; there is also a symbolic nutmeg pod on the hoist-sidetriangle (Grenada is the world's second-largest producer of nutmeg,after Indonesia); the seven stars represent the seven administrativedivisions
Economy Grenada
Economy - overview:Grenada relies on tourism as its main source of foreign exchange,especially since the construction of an international airport in1985. Strong performances in construction and manufacturing,together with the development of an offshore financial industry,have also contributed to growth in national output.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$440 million (2002 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$454 million
GDP - real growth rate:0.9% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$3,900 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 5.4% industry: 18% services: 76.6% (2000)
Labor force: 42,300 (1996)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 24% industry: 14% services: 62% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:12.5% (2000)
Population below poverty line:32% (2000)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):3% (2005 est.)
Budget:revenues: $85.8 millionexpenditures: $102.1 million; including capital expenditures of $28million (1997)
Agriculture - products:bananas, cocoa, nutmeg, mace, citrus, avocados, root crops,sugarcane, corn, vegetables
Industries:food and beverages, textiles, light assembly operations, tourism,construction
Industrial production growth rate:0.7% (1997 est.)
Electricity - production:159.8 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:148.6 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2003)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - consumption:1,800 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.)
Exports:$40 million (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:bananas, cocoa, nutmeg, fruit and vegetables, clothing, mace