GDP (purchasing power parity):$20.61 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$7.812 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:4.2% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$2,900 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 13.9% industry: 31.2% services: 54.9% (2005 est.)
Labor force: 2.54 million (2005 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 34% industry: 21% services: 45% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate:28% (2005 est.)
Population below poverty line:53% (1993 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 0.6% highest 10%: 42.7% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:55 (1999)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):8.8% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):23.2% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:revenues: $1.693 billionexpenditures: $1.938 billion; including capital expenditures of $106million (2005 est.)
Public debt:68.4% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:bananas, coffee, citrus; beef; timber; shrimp
Industries:sugar, coffee, textiles, clothing, wood products
Industrial production growth rate:7.7% (2003 est.)
Electricity - production:4.338 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 50.2% hydro: 49.8% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:4.369 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:335 million kWh (2003)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - consumption:37,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:NA bbl/day
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:0 cu m (2003 est.)
Current account balance:$-42.3 million (2005 est.)
Exports:$1.726 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:coffee, shrimp, bananas, gold, palm oil, fruit, lobster, lumber
Exports - partners:US 73.2%, Guatemala 2.9%, El Salvador 2.9% (2005)
Imports:$4.161 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and transport equipment, industrial raw materials,chemical products, fuels, foodstuffs (2000)
Imports - partners:US 53.1%, Guatemala 6.5%, El Salvador 4.1% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$2.339 billion (2005 est.)
Debt - external:$5.795 billion (2005 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$557.8 million (1999)
Currency (code):lempira (HNL)
Currency code:HNL
Exchange rates:lempiras per US dollar - 18.92 (2005), 18.206 (2004), 17.345(2003), 16.433 (2002), 15.474 (2001)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Honduras
Telephones - main lines in use:494,400 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:1.282 million (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: inadequate systemdomestic: NAinternational: country code - 504; satellite earth stations - 2Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); connected to Central American MicrowaveSystem
Radio broadcast stations:AM 241, FM 53, shortwave 12 (1998)
Radios:2.45 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:11 (plus 17 repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:570,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.hn
Internet hosts:3,973 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):8 (2000)
Internet users:223,000 (2005)
Transportation Honduras
Airports: 116 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 11 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 3 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 105 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 19 under 914 m: 84 (2006)
Railways: total: 699 km narrow gauge: 279 km 1.067-m gauge; 420 km 0.914-m gauge (2005)
Roadways: total: 13,603 km paved: 2,775 km unpaved: 10,828 km (1999)
Waterways:465 km (most navigable only by small craft) (2005)
Merchant marine:total: 136 ships (1000 GRT or over) 405,984 GRT/557,179 DWTby type: bulk carrier 11, cargo 61, chemical tanker 5, container 1,liquefied gas 1, livestock carrier 1, passenger 5, passenger/cargo9, petroleum tanker 29, refrigerated cargo 8, roll on/roll off 4,specialized tanker 1foreign-owned: 43 (Canada 1, China 3, Egypt 4, Greece 3, Hong Kong2, Israel 1, Japan 4, South Korea 6, Lebanon 1, Mexico 1, Qatar 1,Singapore 11, Taiwan 2, Tanzania 1, US 1, Vietnam 1) (2006)
Ports and terminals:Puerto Castilla, Puerto Cortes, San Lorenzo, Tela
Military Honduras
Military branches:Army, Navy (includes naval infantry), Honduran Air Force (FuerzaAerea Hondurena, FAH) (2006)
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age for voluntary two-three year military service (2004)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 1,537,232females age 18-49: 1,515,120 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 1,100,991females age 18-49: 1,121,649 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 82,105females age 18-49: 78,971 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$52.8 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:2.55% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Honduras
Disputes - international:in 1992, International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled on thedelimitation of "bolsones" (disputed areas) along the ElSalvador-Honduras border, 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 with consideration of Honduran access to the Pacific; ElSalvador continues to claim tiny Conejo Island, not mentioned in theICJ ruling, off Honduras in the Gulf of Fonseca; Honduras claimsSapodilla Cays off the coast of Belize, but agreed to creation of ajoint ecological park and Guatemalan corridor in the Caribbean inthe failed 2002 Belize-Guatemala Differendum, which the OAS isattempting to revive; Nicaragua filed a claim against Honduras in1999 and against Colombia in 2001 at the ICJ over a complex disputeover islands and maritime boundaries in the Caribbean Sea
Illicit drugs:transshipment point for drugs and narcotics; illicit producer ofcannabis, cultivated on small plots and used principally for localconsumption; corruption is a major problem; some money-launderingactivity
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
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@Hong Kong
Introduction Hong Kong
Background:Occupied by the UK in 1841, Hong Kong was formally ceded by Chinathe following year; various adjacent lands were added later in the19th century. Pursuant to an agreement signed by China and the UK on19 December 1984, Hong Kong became the Hong Kong SpecialAdministrative Region (SAR) of China on 1 July 1997. In thisagreement, China has promised that, under its "one country, twosystems" formula, China's socialist economic system will not beimposed on Hong Kong and that Hong Kong will enjoy a high degree ofautonomy in all matters except foreign and defense affairs for thenext 50 years.
Geography Hong Kong
Location:Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China
Geographic coordinates:22 15 N, 114 10 E
Map references:Southeast Asia
Area:total: 1,092 sq kmland: 1,042 sq kmwater: 50 sq km
Area - comparative:six times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 30 km regional border: China 30 km
Coastline:733 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate:subtropical monsoon; cool and humid in winter, hot and rainy fromspring through summer, warm and sunny in fall
Terrain:hilly to mountainous with steep slopes; lowlands in north
Elevation extremes: lowest point: South China Sea 0 m highest point: Tai Mo Shan 958 m
Natural resources: outstanding deepwater harbor, feldspar
Land use: arable land: 5.05% permanent crops: 1.01% other: 93.94% (2001)
Irrigated land:20 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:occasional typhoons
Environment - current issues:air and water pollution from rapid urbanization
Environment - international agreements:party to: Marine Dumping (associate member)
Geography - note:more than 200 islands
People Hong Kong
Population:6,940,432 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 13.5% (male 488,607/female 445,593)15-64 years: 73.7% (male 2,495,679/female 2,620,336)65 years and over: 12.8% (male 413,031/female 477,186) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 40.7 yearsmale: 40.4 yearsfemale: 40.9 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:0.59% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:7.29 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:6.29 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:4.89 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.08 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.1 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 2.95 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 3.13 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 2.75 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 81.59 yearsmale: 78.9 yearsfemale: 84.5 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:0.95 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.1% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:2,600 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 200 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Chinese/Hong Kongeradjective: Chinese/Hong Kong
Ethnic groups:Chinese 95%, other 5%
Religions:eclectic mixture of local religions 90%, Christian 10%
Languages:Chinese (Cantonese), English; both are official
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over has ever attended schooltotal population: 93.5%male: 96.9%female: 89.6% (2002)
Government Hong Kong
Country name:conventional long form: Hong Kong Special Administrative Regionconventional short form: Hong Konglocal long form: Xianggang Tebie Xingzhengqulocal short form: Xianggangabbreviation: HK
Dependency status:special administrative region of China
Government type:limited democracy
Administrative divisions:none (special administrative region of China)
Independence:none (special administrative region of China)
National holiday:National Day (Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republicof China), 1 October (1949); note - 1 July 1997 is celebrated asHong Kong Special Administrative Region Establishment Day
Constitution:Basic Law, approved in March 1990 by China's National People'sCongress, is Hong Kong's "mini-constitution"
Legal system:based on English common law
Suffrage:direct election 18 years of age; universal for permanent residentsliving in the territory of Hong Kong for the past seven years;indirect election limited to about 200,000 members of functionalconstituencies and an 800-member election committee drawn from broadregional groupings, municipal organizations, and central governmentbodies
Executive branch:chief of state: President of China HU Jintao (since 15 March 2003)head of government: Chief Executive Donald TSANG (since 24 June 2005)cabinet: Executive Council consists of 14 official members and 15non-official memberselections: previous chief executive TUNG Chee-hwa was elected tosecond five-year term in March 2002 by 800-member election committeedominated by pro-Beijing forces, resignation accepted 12 March 2005;Donald TSANG acted as chief executive between 12 March 2005 and 25May 2005; Henry TANG acted as chief executive between 25 May 2005and 24 June 2005; TSANG was elected on 16 June 2005 to fill finaltwo years of TUNG's term (next election to be held in March 2007)
Legislative branch:unicameral Legislative Council or LEGCO (60 seats; in 2004 30 seatsindirectly elected by functional constituencies, 30 elected bypopular vote; members serve four-year terms)elections: last held 12 September 2004 (next to be held in September2008)election results: percent of vote by party - pro-democracy group62%; seats by party - (pro-Beijing 34) DAB 12, Liberal Party 10,independents 11, FTU 1; (pro-democracy 25) independents 11,Democratic Party 9, CTU 2, ADPL 1, Frontier Party 1, NWSC 1;non-voting LEGCO president 1
Judicial branch:Court of Final Appeal in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Political parties and leaders:Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood or ADPL[Frederick FUNG Kin-kee]; Citizens Party [Alex CHAN Kai-chung];Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong orDAB [MA Lik]; Democratic Party [LEE Wing-tat]; Frontier Party [EmilyLAU Wai-hing]; Liberal Party [James TIEN Pei-chun]note: political blocs include: pro-democracy - ADPL, DemocraticParty, Frontier Party; pro-Beijing - DAB, Liberal Party
Political pressure groups and leaders: Article 45 Concern Group (pro-democracy); Chinese General Chamber of Commerce (pro-China); Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong; Confederation of Trade Unions or CTU (pro-democracy) [LAU Chin-shek, president; LEE Cheuk-yan, general secretary]; Federation of Hong Kong Industries; Federation of Trade Unions or FTU (pro-China) [CHENG Yiu-tong, executive councilor]; Hong Kong Alliance in Support of the Patriotic Democratic Movement in China [Szeto WAH, chairman]; Hong Kong and Kowloon Trade Union Council (pro-Taiwan); Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce; Hong Kong Professional Teachers' Union [CHEUNG Man-kwong, president]; Neighborhood and Workers' Service Center or NWSC (pro-democracy); The Alliance [Bernard CHAN, exco member]
International organization participation: APEC, AsDB, BIS, ICC, ICFTU, IHO, IMF, IMO (associate), IOC, ISO (correspondent), UPU, WCL, WCO, WMO, WToO (associate), WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (special administrative region of China)
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Consul General James B. CUNNINGHAM consulate(s) general: 26 Garden Road, Hong Kong mailing address: PSC 461, Box 1, FPO AP 96521-0006 telephone: [852] 2523-9011 FAX: [852] 2845-1598
Flag description: red with a stylized, white, five-petal bauhinia flower in the center
Economy Hong Kong
Economy - overview:Hong Kong has a free market, entrepot economy, highly dependent oninternational trade. Natural resources are limited, and food and rawmaterials must be imported. Gross imports and exports (i.e.,including reexports to and from third countries) each exceed GDP indollar value. Even before Hong Kong reverted to Chineseadministration on 1 July 1997, it had extensive trade and investmentties with China. Hong Kong has been further integrating its economywith China because China's growing openness to the world economy hasmade manufacturing in China much more cost effective. Hong Kong'sreexport business to and from China is a major driver of growth. Percapita GDP is comparable to that of the four big economies ofWestern Europe. GDP growth averaged a strong 5% from 1989 to 2005,but Hong Kong suffered two recessions in the past eight yearsbecause of the Asian financial crisis in 1997-1998 and the globaldownturn in 2001-2002. Although the Severe Acute RespiratorySyndrome (SARS) outbreak in 2003 also battered Hong Kong's economy,a solid rise in exports, a boom in tourism from the mainland becauseof China's easing of travel restrictions, and a return of consumerconfidence resulted in the resumption of strong growth from late2003 through 2005.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$234.3 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$172.6 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:7.3% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$34,000 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 0.1% industry: 9.2% services: 90.6% (2005 est.)
Labor force:3.61 million (October 2005)
Labor force - by occupation:manufacturing 7.5%, construction 2.9%, wholesale and retail trade,restaurants, and hotels 43.9%, financing, insurance, and real estate19.6%, transport and communications 7.1%, community and socialservices 18.8%note: above data exclude public sector (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate:5.5% (2005 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Distribution of family income - Gini index:43.4 (1996)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):0.9% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):20.8% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:revenues: $31.31 billionexpenditures: $32.3 billion; including capital expenditures of $5.9billion (2005 est.)
Public debt:1.8% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:fresh vegetables; poultry, pork; fish
Industries:textiles, clothing, tourism, banking, shipping, electronics,plastics, toys, watches, clocks
Industrial production growth rate:-0.6% (2005 est.)
Electricity - production:37.3 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:39.22 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:3.086 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:9.84 billion kWh (2004)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - consumption:293,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports:NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:NA bbl/day
Natural gas - production:0 cu m NA cu m
Natural gas - consumption:692.2 million cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - imports:71.15 million cu m (2004 est.)
Current account balance:$19.7 billion (2005 est.)
Exports:$286.3 billion f.o.b., including reexports (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:electrical machinery and appliances, textiles, apparel, footwear,watches and clocks, toys, plastics, precious stones, printed material
Exports - partners:China 45%, US 16.1%, Japan 5.3% (2005)
Imports:$291.6 billion (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:raw materials and semi-manufactures, consumer goods, capital goods,foodstuffs, fuel (most is re-exported)
Imports - partners:China 45%, Japan 11%, Taiwan 7.2%, Singapore 5.8%, US 5.1%, SouthKorea 4.4% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$124.3 billion (2005 est.)
Debt - external:$72.04 billion (2005 est.)
Currency (code):Hong Kong dollar (HKD)
Currency code:HKD
Exchange rates:Hong Kong dollars per US dollar - 7.7773 (2005), 7.788 (2004),7.7868 (2003), 7.7989 (2002), 7.7988 (2001)
Fiscal year:1 April - 31 March
Communications Hong Kong
Telephones - main lines in use:3,794,600 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:8.693 million (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: modern facilities provide excellent domesticand international servicesdomestic: microwave radio relay links and extensive fiber-opticnetworkinternational: country code - 852; satellite earth stations - 3Intelsat (1 Pacific Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean); coaxial cable toGuangzhou, China; access to 5 international submarine cablesproviding connections to ASEAN member nations, Japan, Taiwan,Australia, Middle East, and Western Europe
Radio broadcast stations:AM 5, FM 9, shortwave 0 (2004)
Radios:4.45 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 55 low power stations note: two TV networks, each one broadcasting on two channels (2006)
Televisions:1.84 million (1997)
Internet country code:.hk
Internet hosts:800,834 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):17 (2000)
Internet users:4,878,713 (2005)
Transportation Hong Kong
Airports: 3 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 3 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2006)
Heliports: 3 (2006)
Roadways: total: 1,955 km paved: 1,955 km (2005)
Merchant marine:total: 924 ships (1000 GRT or over) 30,838,025 GRT/51,957,682 DWTby type: barge carrier 2, bulk carrier 495, cargo 121, chemicaltanker 44, container 133, liquefied gas 22, passenger 6,passenger/cargo 7, petroleum tanker 76, roll on/roll off 3,specialized tanker 7, vehicle carrier 8foreign-owned: 562 (Australia 1, Belgium 3, Canada 28, China 274,Denmark 6, Germany 6, Greece 27, Indonesia 4, Japan 67, South Korea6, Norway 26, Philippines 16, Portugal 1, Singapore 24, Syria 1,Taiwan 6, UAE 2, UK 43, US 21)registered in other countries: 417 (Bahamas 8, Belize 8, Bermuda 10,Cambodia 15, China 7, Cyprus 1, France 1, French Southern andAntarctic Lands 2, Greece 1, Honduras 2, India 1, Liberia 37,Malaysia 14, Malta 2, Marshall Islands 7, Norway 55, Panama 169,Philippines 3, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 6, Singapore 50,Taiwan 3, Tuvalu 8, unknown 7) (2006)
Ports and terminals:Hong Kong
Military Hong Kong
Military branches:no regular indigenous military forces; Hong Kong garrison ofChina's People's Liberation Army (PLA) includes elements of the PLAGround Forces, PLA Navy, and PLA Air Force; these forces are underthe direct leadership of the Central Military Commission in Beijingand under administrative control of the adjacent Guangzhou MilitaryRegion
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age (2004)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 1,743,972females age 18-49: 1,904,967 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 1,403,088females age 18-49: 1,527,278 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 40,343females age 18-49: 38,234 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:Hong Kong garrison is funded by China; figures are NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:NA
Military - note:defense is the responsibility of China
Transnational Issues Hong Kong
Disputes - international:none
Illicit drugs:makes strenuous law enforcement efforts, but faces difficultchallenges in controlling transit of heroin and methamphetamine toregional and world markets; modern banking system provides conduitfor money laundering; rising indigenous use of synthetic drugs,especially among young people
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
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@Hungary
Introduction Hungary
Background:Hungary was part of the polyglot Austro-Hungarian Empire, whichcollapsed during World War I. The country fell under Communist rulefollowing World War II. In 1956, a revolt and announced withdrawalfrom the Warsaw Pact were met with a massive military interventionby Moscow. Under the leadership of Janos KADAR in 1968, Hungarybegan liberalizing its economy, introducing so-called "GoulashCommunism." Hungary held its first multiparty elections in 1990 andinitiated a free market economy. It joined NATO in 1999 and the EUin 2004.
Geography Hungary
Location:Central Europe, northwest of Romania
Geographic coordinates:47 00 N, 20 00 E
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 93,030 sq kmland: 92,340 sq kmwater: 690 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Indiana
Land boundaries:total: 2,171 kmborder countries: Austria 366 km, Croatia 329 km, Romania 443 km,Serbia 151 km, Slovakia 677 km, Slovenia 102 km, Ukraine 103 km
Coastline:0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:none (landlocked)
Climate:temperate; cold, cloudy, humid winters; warm summers
Terrain:mostly flat to rolling plains; hills and low mountains on theSlovakian border
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Tisza River 78 mhighest point: Kekes 1,014 m
Natural resources:bauxite, coal, natural gas, fertile soils, arable land
Land use: arable land: 49.58% permanent crops: 2.06% other: 48.36% (2005)
Irrigated land: 2,300 sq km (2003)
Environment - current issues: the upgrading of Hungary's standards in waste management, energy efficiency, and air, soil, and water pollution to meet EU requirements will require large investments
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, AirPollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85,Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty,Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone LayerProtection, Ship Pollution, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Sulfur 94
Geography - note:landlocked; strategic location astride main land routes betweenWestern Europe and Balkan Peninsula as well as between Ukraine andMediterranean basin; the north-south flowing Duna (Danube) and TiszaRivers divide the country into three large regions
People Hungary
Population:9,981,334 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 15.6% (male 799,163/female 755,389)15-64 years: 69.2% (male 3,403,375/female 3,505,640)65 years and over: 15.2% (male 550,297/female 967,470) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 38.7 yearsmale: 36.3 yearsfemale: 41.4 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:-0.25% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:9.72 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:13.11 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:0.86 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: 0.97 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.57 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 8.39 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 9.09 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 7.64 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 72.66 yearsmale: 68.45 yearsfemale: 77.14 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.32 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:2,800 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Hungarian(s)adjective: Hungarian
Ethnic groups:Hungarian 92.3%, Roma 1.9%, other or unknown 5.8% (2001 census)
Religions:Roman Catholic 51.9%, Calvinist 15.9%, Lutheran 3%, Greek Catholic2.6%, other Christian 1%, other or unspecified 11.1%, unaffiliated14.5% (2001 census)
Languages:Hungarian 93.6%, other or unspecified 6.4% (2001 census)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99.4%male: 99.5%female: 99.3% (2003 est.)
Government Hungary
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Hungaryconventional short form: Hungarylocal long form: Magyar Koztarsasaglocal short form: Magyarorszag
Government type:parliamentary democracy
Capital:name: Budapestgeographic coordinates: 47 30 N, 19 05 Etime difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends lastSunday in October
Administrative divisions:19 counties (megyek, singular - megye), 22 urban counties (singular- megyei varos), and 1 capital city (fovaros)counties: Bacs-Kiskun, Baranya, Bekes, Borsod-Abauj-Zemplen,Csongrad, Fejer, Gyor-Moson-Sopron, Hajdu-Bihar, Heves,Jasz-Nagykun-Szolnok, Komarom-Esztergom, Nograd, Pest, Somogy,Szabolcs-Szatmar-Bereg, Tolna, Vas, Veszprem, Zalaurban counties: Bekescsaba, Debrecen, Dunaujvaros, Eger, Gyor,Hodmezovasarhely, Kaposvar, Kecskemet, Miskolc, Nagykanizsa,Nyiregyhaza, Pecs, Salgotarjan, Sopron, Szeged, Szekesfehervar,Szekszard, Szolnok, Szombathely, Tatabanya, Veszprem, Zalaegerszegcapital city: Budapest
Independence:1001 (unification by King Stephen I)
National holiday:Saint Stephen's Day, 20 August
Constitution:18 August 1949, effective 20 August 1949; revised 19 April 1972; 18October 1989 revision ensured legal rights for individuals andconstitutional checks on the authority of the prime minister andalso established the principle of parliamentary oversight; 1997amendment streamlined the judicial system
Legal system:rule of law based on Western model; accepts compulsory ICJjurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Laszlo SOLYOM (since 5 August 2005)head of government: Prime Minister Ferenc GYURCSANY (since 29September 2004)cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the National Assembly onthe recommendation of the presidentelections: president elected by the National Assembly for afive-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 6-7June 2005 (next to be held by June 2010); prime minister elected bythe National Assembly on the recommendation of the president;election last held 29 September 2004election results: Laszlo SOLYOM elected president by a simplemajority in the third round of voting, 185 to 182; Ferenc GYURCSANYelected prime minister; result of legislative vote - 197 to 12note: to be elected, the president must win two-thirds oflegislative vote in the first two rounds or a simple majority in thethird round
Legislative branch:unicameral National Assembly or Orszaggyules (386 seats; membersare elected by popular vote under a system of proportional anddirect representation to serve four-year terms)elections: last held 9 and 23 April 2006 (next to be held April 2010)election results: percent of vote by party (5% or more of the voterequired for parliamentary representation in the first round) - MSzP43.2%, Fidesz-KDNP 42%, SzDSz 6.5%, MDF 5%, other 3.3%; seats byparty - MSzP 190, Fidesz 141, KDNP 23, SzDSz 20, MDF 11, independent1
Judicial branch:Constitutional Court (judges are elected by the National Assemblyfor nine-year terms)
Political parties and leaders:Alliance of Free Democrats or SzDSz [Gabor KUNCZE]; ChristianDemocratic People's Party or KDNP [Zsolt SEMJEN]; Hungarian CivicAlliance or Fidesz [Viktor ORBAN, chairman]; Hungarian DemocraticForum or MDF [Ibolya DAVID]; Hungarian Socialist Party or MSzP[Istvan HILLER, chairman]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACCT (observer), Australia Group, BIS, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD,EIB, ESA (cooperating state), EU (new member), FAO, G- 9, IAEA,IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MINURSO, NAM (guest),NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE,PCA, SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOMIG, UPU,WCL, WCO, WEU (associate), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Andras SIMONYI chancery: 3910 Shoemaker Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 362-6730 FAX: [1] (202) 966-8135 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador April H. FOLEY embassy: Szabadsag ter 12, H-1054 Budapest mailing address: pouch: American Embassy Budapest, 5270 Budapest Place, US Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-5270 telephone: [36] (1) 475-4400 FAX: [36] (1) 475-4764
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and green
Economy Hungary
Economy - overview:Hungary has made the transition from a centrally planned to amarket economy, with a per capita income about 60% of the EU-25average. Hungary continues to demonstrate strong economic growth andacceded to the EU in May 2004. The private sector accounts for over80% of GDP. Foreign ownership of and investment in Hungarian firmsare widespread, with cumulative foreign direct investment totalingmore than $34 billion between 1990 and 2003. Several private sectoranalysts and sovereign ratings agencies have expressed concerns overHungary's unsustainable budget and current account deficits.Inflation has declined from 14% in 1998 to 3.5% in 2005.Unemployment in 2005 rose to 7.1%, its highest point since 1999;Hungary's labor force participation rate of 57% is one of the lowestin the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).Germany is by far Hungary's largest economic partner. Policychallenges include cutting the public sector deficit to 3% of GDP by2008, from about 6.1% in 2005, and orchestrating an orderly interestrate reduction without sparking capital outflows.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$163.1 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$106.4 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:4.1% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$16,300 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 3.7% industry: 31.2% services: 65.1% (2005 est.)
Labor force: 4.18 million (2005 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 5.5% industry: 33.3% services: 61.2% (2003)
Unemployment rate:7.2% (2005)
Population below poverty line:At-risk-of poverty rate after social transfers: 12% (2003)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 4.1% highest 10%: 22.2% (2002)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:24.96 (2002)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):3.6% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):23.1% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:revenues: $51.4 billionexpenditures: $58.34 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA(2005 est.)
Public debt:58.9% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:wheat, corn, sunflower seed, potatoes, sugar beets; pigs, cattle,poultry, dairy products
Industries:mining, metallurgy, construction materials, processed foods,textiles, chemicals (especially pharmaceuticals), motor vehicles
Industrial production growth rate:7.3% (2005 est.)
Electricity - production:32.21 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 60.1% hydro: 0.5% nuclear: 39% other: 0.3% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:36.96 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:7.1 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:14.1 billion kWh (2003)
Oil - production:45,190 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - consumption:136,000 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - exports:47,180 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:94,000 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - proved reserves:102 million bbl (1 January 2006)
Natural gas - production:3.1 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:13 billion cu m (2004)
Natural gas - exports:4 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:10.95 billion cu m (2004)
Natural gas - proved reserves:33.98 billion cu m (1 January 2003)
Current account balance:$-7.963 billion (2005 est.)
Exports:$61.75 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:machinery and equipment 61.1%, other manufactures 28.7%, foodproducts 6.5%, raw materials 2%, fuels and electricity 1.6% (2003)
Exports - partners:Germany 29.4%, Austria 5.9%, Italy 5.6%, France 5%, UK 4.7% (2005)
Imports:$64.83 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment 51.6%, other manufactures 35.7%, fuels andelectricity 7.7%, food products 3.1%, raw materials 2.0% (2003)
Imports - partners:Germany 27.2%, Russia 7.5%, China 7.2%, Austria 6.7%, Italy 4.9%,France 4.8%, Netherlands 4.3% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$18.59 billion (2005 est.)
Debt - external:$66.22 billion (2005 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $3.4 billion in committed EU structural adjustment and cohesion funds (2004-06)
Currency (code):forint (HUF)
Currency code:HUF
Exchange rates:forints per US dollar - 199.58 (2005), 202.75 (2004), 224.31(2003), 257.89 (2002), 286.49 (2001)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Hungary
Telephones - main lines in use:3.356 million (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:9.32 million (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: the telephone system has been modernized and iscapable of satisfying all requests for telecommunication servicedomestic: the system is digitalized and highly automated; trunkservices are carried by fiber-optic cable and digital microwaveradio relay; a program for fiber-optic subscriber connections wasinitiated in 1996; heavy use is made of mobile cellular telephonesinternational: country code - 36; Hungary has fiber-optic cableconnections with all neighboring countries; the international switchis in Budapest; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (AtlanticOcean and Indian Ocean regions), 1 Inmarsat, 1 very small apertureterminal (VSAT) system of ground terminals
Radio broadcast stations:AM 17, FM 57, shortwave 3 (1998)
Radios:7.01 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:35 (plus 161 low-power repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:4.42 million (1997)
Internet country code:.hu
Internet hosts:608,085 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):16 (2000)
Internet users:3.05 million (2005)
Transportation Hungary
Airports: 46 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 20 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 2 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 26 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 11 under 914 m: 10 (2006)
Heliports:5 (2006)
Pipelines:gas 4,397 km; oil 990 km; refined products 335 km (2006)
Railways:total: 7,937 kmbroad gauge: 36 km 1.524-m gaugestandard gauge: 7,682 km 1.435-m gauge (2,628 km electrified)narrow gauge: 219 km 0.760-m gauge (2005)
Roadways:total: 159,568 kmpaved: 70,050 km (30,874 km of interurban roads including 626 km ofexpressways)unpaved: 89,518 km (2005)
Waterways:1,622 km (most on Danube River) (2006)
Ports and terminals:Budapest, Dunaujvaros, Gyor-Gonyu, Csepel, Baja, Mohacs (2003)
Military Hungary
Military branches:Ground Forces, Air Forces
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age for voluntary military service; conscriptionabolished in June 2004 (2004)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 2,303,116females age 18-49: 2,265,463 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 1,780,513females age 18-49: 1,864,580 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 63,847females age 18-49: 61,037 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$1.08 billion (2002 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.75% (2002 est.)
Transnational Issues Hungary
Disputes - international:in 2004, Hungary amended the status law extending special socialand cultural benefits - and voted down a referendum to extend dualcitizenship - to ethnic Hungarians living in neighboring states,which have objected to such measures; consultations continue betweenSlovakia and Hungary over Hungary's completion of its portion theGabcikovo-Nagymaros hydroelectric dam project along the Danube; as amember state that forms part of the EU's external border, Hungarymust implement the strict Schengen border rules
Illicit drugs:transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and cannabis and forSouth American cocaine destined for Western Europe; limited producerof precursor chemicals, particularly for amphetamine andmethamphetamine; improving, but remains vulnerable to moneylaundering related to organized crime and drug trafficking
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
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@Iceland
Introduction Iceland
Background:Settled by Norwegian and Celtic (Scottish and Irish) immigrantsduring the late 9th and 10th centuries A.D., Iceland boasts theworld's oldest functioning legislative assembly, the Althing,established in 930. Independent for over 300 years, Iceland wassubsequently ruled by Norway and Denmark. Fallout from the Askjavolcano of 1875 devastated the Icelandic economy and causedwidespread famine. Over the next quarter century, 20% of theisland's population emigrated, mostly to Canada and the US. Limitedhome rule from Denmark was granted in 1874 and complete independenceattained in 1944. Literacy, longevity, income, and social cohesionare first-rate by world standards.
Geography Iceland
Location:Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the NorthAtlantic Ocean, northwest of the UK
Geographic coordinates:65 00 N, 18 00 W
Map references:Arctic Region
Area:total: 103,000 sq kmland: 100,250 sq kmwater: 2,750 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Kentucky
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:4,970 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nmcontinental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate:temperate; moderated by North Atlantic Current; mild, windywinters; damp, cool summers
Terrain:mostly plateau interspersed with mountain peaks, icefields; coastdeeply indented by bays and fiords
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 mhighest point: Hvannadalshnukur 2,110 m (at Vatnajokull glacier)
Natural resources:fish, hydropower, geothermal power, diatomite
Land use:arable land: 0.07%permanent crops: 0%other: 99.93% (2005)
Irrigated land:NA
Natural hazards:earthquakes and volcanic activity
Environment - current issues:water pollution from fertilizer runoff; inadequate wastewatertreatment
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Persistent OrganicPollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes,Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone LayerProtection, Ship Pollution, Transboundary Air Pollution, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Marine LifeConservation
Geography - note:strategic location between Greenland and Europe; westernmostEuropean country; Reykjavik is the northernmost national capital inthe world; more land covered by glaciers than in all of continentalEurope
People Iceland
Population:299,388 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 21.7% (male 33,021/female 32,021)15-64 years: 66.5% (male 100,944/female 98,239)65 years and over: 11.7% (male 15,876/female 19,287) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 34.2 yearsmale: 33.8 yearsfemale: 34.7 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:0.87% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:13.64 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:6.72 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:1.74 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.04 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 3.29 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 3.43 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 3.14 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 80.31 yearsmale: 78.23 yearsfemale: 82.48 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.92 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.2% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:220 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 100 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Icelander(s)adjective: Icelandic
Ethnic groups:homogeneous mixture of descendants of Norse and Celts 94%,population of foreign origin 6%
Religions:Lutheran Church of Iceland 85.5%, Reykjavik Free Church 2.1%, RomanCatholic Church 2%, Hafnarfjorour Free Church 1.5%, other Christian2.7%, other or unspecified 3.8%, unaffiliated 2.4% (2004)
Languages:Icelandic, English, Nordic languages, German widely spoken
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99%male: 99%female: 99% (2003 est.)
Government Iceland
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Icelandconventional short form: Icelandlocal long form: Lydveldid Islandlocal short form: Island
Government type:constitutional republic
Capital:name: Reykjavikgeographic coordinates: 64 09 N, 21 57 Wtime difference: UTC (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)
Administrative divisions:8 regions; Austurland, Hofudhborgarsvaedhi, Nordhurland Eystra,Nordhurland Vestra, Sudhurland, Sudhurnes, Vestfirdhir, Vesturland
Independence:1 December 1918 (became a sovereign state under the Danish Crown);17 June 1944 (from Denmark)
National holiday:Independence Day, 17 June (1944)
Constitution:16 June 1944, effective 17 June 1944; amended many times
Legal system:civil law system based on Danish law; has not accepted compulsoryICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON (since 1 August1996)head of government: Prime Minister Geir H. HAARDE (since 7 June 2006)cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime ministerelections: president, largely a ceremonial post, is elected bypopular vote for a four-year term (no term limits); election lastheld 26 June 2004 (next to be held June 2008); following legislativeelections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of themajority coalition is usually the prime ministerelection results: Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON 85.6%, Baldur AGUSTSSON12.5%, Astthor MAGNUSSON 1.9%
Legislative branch:unicameral Parliament or Althing (63 seats; members are elected bypopular vote to serve four-year terms)elections: last held 10 May 2003 (next to be held by May 2007)election results: percent of vote by party - Independence Party33.7%, Social Democratic Alliance 31%, Progressive Party 17.7%,Left-Green Movement 8.8%, Liberal Party 7.4%; seats by party -Independence Party 22, Social Democratic Alliance 20, ProgressiveParty 12, Left-Green Alliance 5, Liberal Party 4
Judicial branch:Supreme Court or Haestirettur (justices are appointed for life bythe Minister of Justice); eight district courts (justices areappointed for life by the Minister of Justice)
Political parties and leaders:Independence Party or IP [Geir HAARDE]; Left-Green Movement or LGM[Steingrimur SIGFUSSON]; Liberal Party or LP [Gudjon KRISTJANSSON];Progressive Party or PP [Halldor ASGRIMSSON - will step down inAugust 2006]; Social Democratic Alliance (includes People's Allianceor PA, Social Democratic Party or SDP, Women's List) or SDA[Ingibjorg Solrun GISLADOTTIR]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:Arctic Council, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EFTA,FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NATO,NC, NEA, NIB, OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WCO,WEU (associate), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO