Airports:1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)
Ports and terminals:none; offshore anchorage only
Military Jan Mayen
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of Norway
Transnational Issues Jan Mayen
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
======================================================================
@Japan
Introduction Japan
Background:In 1603, a Tokugawa shogunate (military dictatorship) ushered in along period of isolation from foreign influence in order to secureits power. For 250 years this policy enabled Japan to enjoystability and a flowering of its indigenous culture. Following theTreaty of Kanagawa with the US in 1854, Japan opened its ports andbegan to intensively modernize and industrialize. During the late19th and early 20th centuries, Japan became a regional power thatwas able to defeat the forces of both China and Russia. It occupiedKorea, Formosa (Taiwan), and southern Sakhalin Island. In 1931-32Japan occupied Manchuria, and in 1937 it launched a full-scaleinvasion of China. Japan attacked US forces in 1941 - triggeringAmerica's entry into World War II - and soon occupied much of Eastand Southeast Asia. After its defeat in World War II, Japanrecovered to become an economic power and a staunch ally of the US.While the emperor retains his throne as a symbol of national unity,actual power rests in networks of powerful politicians, bureaucrats,and business executives. The economy experienced a major slowdownstarting in the 1990s following three decades of unprecedentedgrowth, but Japan still remains a major economic power, both in Asiaand globally. In 2005, Japan began a two-year term as anon-permanent member of the UN Security Council.
Geography Japan
Location:Eastern Asia, island chain between the North Pacific Ocean and theSea of Japan, east of the Korean Peninsula
Geographic coordinates:36 00 N, 138 00 E
Map references:Asia
Area:total: 377,835 sq kmland: 374,744 sq kmwater: 3,091 sq kmnote: includes Bonin Islands (Ogasawara-gunto), Daito-shoto,Minami-jima, Okino-tori-shima, Ryukyu Islands (Nansei-shoto), andVolcano Islands (Kazan-retto)
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than California
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:29,751 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nm; between 3 nm and 12 nm in the internationalstraits - La Perouse or Soya, Tsugaru, Osumi, and Eastern andWestern Channels of the Korea or Tsushima Straitcontiguous zone: 24 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:varies from tropical in south to cool temperate in north
Terrain:mostly rugged and mountainous
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Hachiro-gata -4 m highest point: Mount Fuji 3,776 m
Natural resources: negligible mineral resources, fish
Land use: arable land: 11.64% permanent crops: 0.9% other: 87.46% (2005)
Irrigated land:25,920 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:many dormant and some active volcanoes; about 1,500 seismicoccurrences (mostly tremors) every year; tsunamis; typhoons
Environment - current issues:air pollution from power plant emissions results in acid rain;acidification of lakes and reservoirs degrading water quality andthreatening aquatic life; Japan is one of the largest consumers offish and tropical timber, contributing to the depletion of theseresources in Asia and elsewhere
Environment - international agreements:party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine LivingResources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, ClimateChange, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of theSea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
Geography - note:strategic location in northeast Asia
People Japan
Population:127,463,611 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 14.2% (male 9,309,524/female 8,849,476)15-64 years: 65.7% (male 42,158,122/female 41,611,754)65 years and over: 20% (male 10,762,585/female 14,772,150) (2006est.)
Median age: total: 42.9 years male: 41.1 years female: 44.7 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:0.02% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:9.37 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:9.16 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:0 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: 1.01 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 3.24 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 3.5 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 2.97 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 81.25 yearsmale: 77.96 yearsfemale: 84.7 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.4 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:less than 0.1% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:12,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:500 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Japanese (singular and plural)adjective: Japanese
Ethnic groups:Japanese 99%, others 1% (Korean 511,262, Chinese 244,241, Brazilian182,232, Filipino 89,851, other 237,914)note: up to 230,000 Brazilians of Japanese origin migrated to Japanin the 1990s to work in industries; some have returned to Brazil(2004)
Religions:observe both Shinto and Buddhist 84%, other 16% (includingChristian 0.7%)
Languages:Japanese
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99%male: 99%female: 99% (2002)
Government Japan
Country name:conventional long form: noneconventional short form: Japanlocal long form: Nihon-koku/Nippon-kokulocal short form: Nihon/Nippon
Government type:constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary government
Capital:name: Tokyogeographic coordinates: 35 42 N, 139 46 Etime difference: UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)
Administrative divisions:47 prefectures; Aichi, Akita, Aomori, Chiba, Ehime, Fukui, Fukuoka,Fukushima, Gifu, Gunma, Hiroshima, Hokkaido, Hyogo, Ibaraki,Ishikawa, Iwate, Kagawa, Kagoshima, Kanagawa, Kochi, Kumamoto,Kyoto, Mie, Miyagi, Miyazaki, Nagano, Nagasaki, Nara, Niigata, Oita,Okayama, Okinawa, Osaka, Saga, Saitama, Shiga, Shimane, Shizuoka,Tochigi, Tokushima, Tokyo, Tottori, Toyama, Wakayama, Yamagata,Yamaguchi, Yamanashi
Independence:660 B.C. (traditional founding by Emperor JIMMU)
National holiday:Birthday of Emperor AKIHITO, 23 December (1933)
Constitution:3 May 1947
Legal system:modeled after European civil law system with English-Americaninfluence; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court;accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:20 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Emperor AKIHITO (since 7 January 1989)head of government: Prime Minister Shinzo ABE (since 26 September2006)cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime ministerelections: Diet designates prime minister; constitution requiresthat prime minister commands parliamentary majority; followinglegislative elections, leader of majority party or leader ofmajority coalition in House of Representatives usually becomes primeminister; monarch is hereditaryelection results: ABE was elected prime minister with 339 of 476votes cast in the House of Representatives and 136 of 240 votes castin the House of Councilors.
Legislative branch:bicameral Diet or Kokkai consists of the House of Councillors orSangi-in (242 seats - members elected for six-year terms; halfreelected every three years; 146 members in multi-seatconstituencies and 96 by proportional representation) and the Houseof Representatives or Shugi-in (480 seats - members elected forfour-year terms; 300 in single-seat constituencies; 180 members byproportional representation in 11 regional blocs)elections: House of Councillors - last held 11 July 2004 (next to beheld in July 2007); House of Representatives - last held 11September 2005 (next election by September 2009)election results: House of Councillors - percent of vote by party -NA; seats by party - LDP 115, DPJ 82, Komeito 24, JCP 9, SDP 5,others 7; distribution of seats as of January 2006 - LDP 112, DPJ83, Komeito 24, JCP 9, SDP 6, others 8: House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - LDP 47.8%,DPJ 36.4%, others 15.8%; seats by party - LDP 296, DPJ 113, Komeito31, JCP 9, SDP 7, others 24; distribution of seats as of January2006 - LDP 294, DPJ 112, Komeito 31, JCP 9, SDP 7, others 27 (2006)
Judicial branch:Supreme Court (chief justice is appointed by the monarch afterdesignation by the cabinet; all other justices are appointed by thecabinet)
Political parties and leaders:Democratic Party of Japan or DPJ [Ichiro OZAWA]; Japan CommunistParty or JCP [Kazuo SHII]; Komeito [Akihoro OTA]; Liberal DemocraticParty or LDP [Shinzo ABE]; Social Democratic Party or SDP [MizuhoFUKUSHIMA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:AfDB, APEC, APT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue partner), AustraliaGroup, BIS, CE (observer), CERN (observer), CP, EAS, EBRD, FAO, G-5,G-7, G-8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA,IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO,ITU, LAIA, MIGA, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE(partner), Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), SAARC (observer), SECI(observer), UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNDOF,UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMOVIC, UNRWA, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU,WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Ryozo KATOchancery: 2520 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone: [1] (202) 238-6700FAX: [1] (202) 328-2187consulate(s) general: Anchorage, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver,Detroit, Agana (Guam), Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, NewOrleans, New York, Portland (Oregon), San Francisco, Seattle
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador J. Thomas SCHIEFFERembassy: 1-10-5 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-8420mailing address: Unit 45004, Box 258, APO AP 96337-5004telephone: [81] (03) 3224-5000FAX: [81] (03) 3505-1862consulate(s) general: Naha (Okinawa), Osaka-Kobe, Sapporoconsulate(s): Fukuoka, Nagoya
Flag description:white with a large red disk (representing the sun without rays) inthe center
Economy Japan
Economy - overview:Government-industry cooperation, a strong work ethic, mastery ofhigh technology, and a comparatively small defense allocation (1% ofGDP) helped Japan advance with extraordinary rapidity to the rank ofsecond most technologically powerful economy in the world after theUS and the third-largest economy in the world after the US andChina, measured on a purchasing power parity (PPP) basis. Onenotable characteristic of the economy is how manufacturers,suppliers, and distributors work together in closely-knit groupscalled keiretsu. A second basic feature has been the guarantee oflifetime employment for a substantial portion of the urban laborforce. Both features are now eroding. Japan's industrial sector isheavily dependent on imported raw materials and fuels. The tinyagricultural sector is highly subsidized and protected, with cropyields among the highest in the world. Usually self sufficient inrice, Japan must import about 60% of its food on a caloric basis.Japan maintains one of the world's largest fishing fleets andaccounts for nearly 15% of the global catch. For three decades,overall real economic growth had been spectacular - a 10% average inthe 1960s, a 5% average in the 1970s, and a 4% average in the 1980s.Growth slowed markedly in the 1990s, averaging just 1.7%, largelybecause of the after effects of overinvestment during the late 1980sand contractionary domestic policies intended to wring speculativeexcesses from the stock and real estate markets and to force arestructuring of the economy. From 2000 to 2003, government effortsto revive economic growth met with little success and were furtherhampered by the slowing of the US, European, and Asian economies. In2004 and 2005, growth improved and the lingering fears of deflationin prices and economic activity lessened. Japan's huge governmentdebt, which totals 170% of GDP, and the aging of the population aretwo major long-run problems. Some fear that a rise in taxes couldendanger the current economic recovery. Internal conflict over theproper way to reform the financial system will continue as JapanPost's banking, insurance, and delivery services undergoprivatization between 2007 and 2017.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$4.025 trillion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$4.664 trillion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:2.6% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$31,600 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 1.7% industry: 25.8% services: 72.5% (2005 est.)
Labor force: 66.4 million (2005 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 4.6% industry: 27.8% services: 67.7% (2004)
Unemployment rate:4.4% (2005 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 4.8% highest 10%: 21.7% (1993)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:37.9 (2000)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):-0.3% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):23.2% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:revenues: $1.429 trillionexpenditures: $1.775 trillion; including capital expenditures(public works only) of about $71 billion (2005 est.)
Public debt:158% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:rice, sugar beets, vegetables, fruit; pork, poultry, dairyproducts, eggs; fish
Industries:among world's largest and technologically advanced producers ofmotor vehicles, electronic equipment, machine tools, steel andnonferrous metals, ships, chemicals, textiles, processed foods
Industrial production growth rate:1.5% (2005 est.)
Electricity - production:1.017 trillion kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 60% hydro: 8.4% nuclear: 29.8% other: 1.8% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:946.3 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2003)
Oil - production:120,700 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - consumption:5.578 million bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:93,360 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:5.449 million bbl/day (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:29.29 million bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:2.814 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:86.51 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:77.73 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:39.64 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:$165.6 billion (2005 est.)
Exports:$550.5 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:transport equipment, motor vehicles, semiconductors, electricalmachinery, chemicals
Exports - partners:US 22.9%, China 13.4%, South Korea 7.8%, Taiwan 7.3%, Hong Kong6.1% (2005)
Imports:$451.1 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment, fuels, foodstuffs, chemicals, textiles,raw materials (2001)
Imports - partners:China 21%, US 12.7%, Saudi Arabia 5.5%, UAE 4.9%, Australia 4.7%,South Korea 4.7%, Indonesia 4% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$835.5 billion (2005 est.)
Debt - external:$1.545 trillion (31 December 2004)
Economic aid - donor:ODA, $8.9 billion (2004)
Currency (code):yen (JPY)
Currency code:JPY
Exchange rates:yen per US dollar - 110.22 (2005), 108.19 (2004), 115.93 (2003),125.39 (2002), 121.53 (2001)
Fiscal year:1 April - 31 March
Communications Japan
Telephones - main lines in use:58.78 million (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:94.745 million (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: excellent domestic and international servicedomestic: high level of modern technology and excellent service ofevery kindinternational: country code - 81; satellite earth stations - 5Intelsat (4 Pacific Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), 1 Intersputnik(Indian Ocean region), and 1 Inmarsat (Pacific and Indian Oceanregions); submarine cables to China, Philippines, Russia, and US(via Guam) (1999)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 215 plus 370 repeaters, FM 89 plus 485 repeaters, shortwave 21(2001)
Radios:120.5 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 211 plus 7,341 repeaters note: in addition, US Forces are served by 3 TV stations and 2 TV cable services (1999)
Televisions:86.5 million (1997)
Internet country code:.jp
Internet hosts:28,321,846 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):73 (2000)
Internet users:86.3 million (2005)
Transportation Japan
Airports: 175 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 145 over 3,047 m: 7 2,438 to 3,047 m: 41 1,524 to 2,437 m: 39 914 to 1,523 m: 28 under 914 m: 30 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 30 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 26 (2006)
Heliports:15 (2006)
Pipelines:gas 8,015 km; oil 170 km; oil/gas/water 60 km (2006)
Railways:total: 23,556 kmstandard gauge: 3,204 km 1.435-m gauge (3,204 km electrified)narrow gauge: 77 km 1.372-m gauge (77 km electrified); 20,264 km1.067-m gauge (13,280 km electrified); 11 km 0.762-m gauge (11 kmelectrified) (2005)
Roadways:total: 1.183 million kmpaved: 925,000 km (including 6,946 km of expressways)unpaved: 258,000 km (2003)
Waterways:1,770 km (seagoing vessels use inland seas) (2006)
Merchant marine:total: 683 ships (1000 GRT or over) 10,415,892 GRT/11,765,038 DWTby type: bulk carrier 134, cargo 30, chemical tanker 20, container11, liquefied gas 59, passenger 14, passenger/cargo 149, petroleumtanker 156, refrigerated cargo 3, roll on/roll off 51, vehiclecarrier 56registered in other countries: 2,459 (Australia 1, Bahamas 51,Belize 2, Burma 4, Cambodia 4, Cayman Islands 1, China 3, Cyprus 17,French Southern and Antarctic Lands 4, Honduras 4, Hong Kong 67,Indonesia 3, Isle of Man 4, South Korea 1, Liberia 102, Malaysia 4,Malta 1, Marshall Islands 7, Mongolia 1, Norway 1, Panama 2007,Philippines 26, Portugal 9, Singapore 100, Sweden 2, Thailand 4,Vanuatu 28, unknown 1) (2006)
Ports and terminals:Chiba, Kawasaki, Kiire, Kisarazu, Kobe, Mizushima, Nagoya, Osaka,Tokyo, Yohohama
Military Japan
Military branches:Japanese Defense Agency (JDA): Ground Self-Defense Force (RikujouJietai, GSDF), Maritime Self-Defense Force (Kaijou Jietai, MSDF),Air Self-Defense Force (Nihon Koku-Jieitai, ASDF) (2006)
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 27,003,112females age 18-49: 26,153,482 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 22,234,663females age 18-49: 21,494,947 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 683,147females age 18-49: 650,157 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$44.31 billion (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Japan
Disputes - international:the sovereignty dispute over the islands of Etorofu, Kunashiri, andShikotan, and the Habomai group, known in Japan as the "NorthernTerritories" and in Russia as the "Southern Kuril Islands," occupiedby the Soviet Union in 1945, now administered by Russia and claimedby Japan, remains the primary sticking point to signing a peacetreaty formally ending World War II hostilities; Japan and SouthKorea claim Liancourt Rocks (Take-shima/Tok-do) occupied by SouthKorea since 1954; China and Taiwan dispute both Japan's claims tothe uninhabited islands of the Senkaku-shoto (Diaoyu Tai) andJapan's unilaterally declared exclusive economic zone in the EastChina Sea, the site of intensive hydrocarbon prospecting
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
======================================================================
@Jersey
Introduction Jersey
Background:Jersey and the other Channel Islands represent the last remnants ofthe medieval Dukedom of Normandy that held sway in both France andEngland. These islands were the only British soil occupied by Germantroops in World War II. Jersey is a British crown dependency, but isnot part of the UK.
Geography Jersey
Location:Western Europe, island in the English Channel, northwest of France
Geographic coordinates:49 15 N, 2 10 W
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 116 sq kmland: 116 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:about two-thirds the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:70 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 3 nm exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm
Climate:temperate; mild winters and cool summers
Terrain:gently rolling plain with low, rugged hills along north coast
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 143 m
Natural resources: arable land
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2005)
Irrigated land:NA
Natural hazards:NA
Environment - current issues:NA
Geography - note:largest and southernmost of Channel Islands; about 30% ofpopulation concentrated in Saint Helier
People Jersey
Population:91,084 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 17.2% (male 8,139/female 7,552)15-64 years: 67.1% (male 30,407/female 30,691)65 years and over: 15.7% (male 6,299/female 7,996) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 41.4 yearsmale: 40.7 yearsfemale: 42.1 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:0.28% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:9.3 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:9.28 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:2.74 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.08 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 5.16 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 5.52 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 4.78 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 79.38 yearsmale: 76.89 yearsfemale: 82.05 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.58 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: Channel Islander(s)adjective: Channel Islander
Ethnic groups:Jersey 51.1%, British 34.8%, Irish, French, and other white 6.6%,Portuguese/Madeiran 6.4%, other 1.1% (2001 census)
Religions:Anglican, Roman Catholic, Baptist, Congregational New Church,Methodist, Presbyterian
Languages:English 94.5% (official), Portuguese 4.6%, other 0.9% (2001 census)
Literacy: definition: NA total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA%
Government Jersey
Country name:conventional long form: Bailiwick of Jerseyconventional short form: Jersey
Dependency status:British crown dependency
Government type:NA
Capital:name: Saint Heliergeographic coordinates: 49 12 N, 2 07 Wtime difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends lastSunday in October
Administrative divisions:none (British crown dependency)
Independence:none (British crown dependency)
National holiday:Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)
Constitution:unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice
Legal system:English law and local statute; justice is administered by the RoyalCourt
Suffrage:NA years of age; universal adult
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)head of government: Lieutenant Governor Andrew RIDGEWAY (since 14June 2006); Bailiff Philip Martin BAILHACHE (since February 1995)cabinet: committees appointed by the Assembly of the Stateselections: none; the monarch is hereditary; lieutenant governor andbailiff appointed by the monarch
Legislative branch:unicameral Assembly of the States (55 voting members - 12 senators(elected for six-year terms), 12 constables or heads of parishes(elected for three-year terms), 29 deputies (elected for three-yearterms); the bailiff and the deputy bailiff; and three non-votingmembers - the Dean of Jersey, the Attorney General, and theSolicitor General all appointed by the monarch)elections: last held NA (next to be held NA); note - on 23 November2005, 29 deputies, independents, were electedelection results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 55
Judicial branch:Royal Court (judges elected by an electoral college and the bailiff)
Political parties and leaders:none; all independents
Political pressure groups and leaders:none
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (British crown dependency)
Diplomatic representation from the US:none (British crown dependency)
Flag description:white with a diagonal red cross extending to the corners of theflag; in the upper quadrant, surmounted by a yellow crown, a redshield with the three lions of England in yellow
Economy Jersey
Economy - overview:Jersey's economy is based on international financial services,agriculture, and tourism. In 1996, the finance sector accounted forabout 60% of the island's output. Potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes,and especially flowers are important export crops, shipped mostly tothe UK. The Jersey breed of dairy cattle is known worldwide andrepresents an important export income earner. Milk products go tothe UK and other EU countries. Tourism accounts for 24% of GDP. Inrecent years, the government has encouraged light industry to locatein Jersey, with the result that an electronics industry hasdeveloped alongside the traditional manufacturing of knitwear. Allraw material and energy requirements are imported, as well as alarge share of Jersey's food needs. Light taxes and death dutiesmake the island a popular tax haven. Living standards come close tothose of the UK.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$3.6 billion (2003 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):NA
GDP - real growth rate:NA%
GDP - per capita (PPP):$40,000 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 5% industry: 2% services: 93% (1996)
Labor force:52,790 (2004)
Unemployment rate:0.9% (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):5.3% (2004)
Budget:revenues: $601 millionexpenditures: $588 million; including capital expenditures of $98million (2000 est.)
Agriculture - products:potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes; beef, dairy products
Industries:tourism, banking and finance, dairy
Industrial production growth rate:NA%
Electricity - consumption:630.1 million kWh (2004 est.)
Electricity - imports:NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by France
Exports:$NA
Exports - commodities:light industrial and electrical goods, foodstuffs, textiles
Exports - partners:UK (2004)
Imports:$NA
Imports - commodities:machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, foodstuffs,mineral fuels, chemicals
Imports - partners:UK (2004)
Debt - external:$NA
Economic aid - recipient:$0
Currency (code):British pound (GBP); note - there is also a Jersey pound
Currency code:GBP
Exchange rates:Jersey pounds per US dollar - 0.55 (2005), 0.5462 (2004), 0.6125(2003), 0.6672 (2002), 0.6947 (2001)note: the Jersey pound is at par with the British pound
Fiscal year:1 April - 31 March
Communications Jersey
Telephones - main lines in use:73,900 (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular:83,900 (2004)
Telephone system:general assessment: NAdomestic: NAinternational: 3 submarine cables
Radio broadcast stations:AM NA, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:NA
Television broadcast stations:2 (1997)
Televisions:NA
Internet country code:.je
Internet hosts:1,240 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):NA
Internet users:27,000 (2005)
Transportation Jersey
Airports: 1 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)
Roadways:total: 577 km
Ports and terminals:Gorey, Saint Aubin, Saint Helier
Military Jersey
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues Jersey
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
======================================================================
@Jordan
Introduction Jordan
Background:Following World War I and the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire,the UK received a mandate to govern much of the Middle East. Britainseparated out a semi-autonomous region of Transjordan from Palestinein the early 1920s, and the area gained its independence in 1946; itadopted the name of Jordan in 1950. The country's long-time rulerwas King HUSSEIN (1953-99). A pragmatic leader, he successfullynavigated competing pressures from the major powers (US, USSR, andUK), various Arab states, Israel, and a large internal Palestinianpopulation, despite several wars and coup attempts. In 1989 hereinstituted parliamentary elections and gradual politicalliberalization; in 1994 he signed a peace treaty with Israel. KingABDALLAH II, the son of King HUSSEIN, assumed the throne followinghis father's death in February 1999. Since then, he has consolidatedhis power and undertaken an aggressive economic reform program.Jordan acceded to the World Trade Organization in 2000, and began toparticipate in the European Free Trade Association in 2001. After atwo-year delay, parliamentary and municipal elections took place inthe summer of 2003. The prime minister appointed in November 2005stated the government would focus on political reforms, improvingconditions for the poor, and fighting corruption.
Geography Jordan
Location:Middle East, northwest of Saudi Arabia
Geographic coordinates:31 00 N, 36 00 E
Map references:Middle East
Area:total: 92,300 sq kmland: 91,971 sq kmwater: 329 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Indiana
Land boundaries:total: 1,635 kmborder countries: Iraq 181 km, Israel 238 km, Saudi Arabia 744 km,Syria 375 km, West Bank 97 km
Coastline:26 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate:mostly arid desert; rainy season in west (November to April)
Terrain:mostly desert plateau in east, highland area in west; Great RiftValley separates East and West Banks of the Jordan River
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Dead Sea -408 mhighest point: Jabal Ram 1,734 m
Natural resources:phosphates, potash, shale oil
Land use: arable land: 3.32% permanent crops: 1.18% other: 95.5% (2005)
Irrigated land:750 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:droughts; periodic earthquakes
Environment - current issues: limited natural fresh water resources; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:strategic location at the head of the Gulf of Aqaba and as the Arabcountry that shares the longest border with Israel and the occupiedWest Bank
People Jordan
Population:5,906,760 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 33.8% (male 1,018,070/female 976,442)15-64 years: 62.4% (male 1,966,794/female 1,716,255)65 years and over: 3.9% (male 111,636/female 117,563) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 23 yearsmale: 23.7 yearsfemale: 22.4 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:2.49% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:21.25 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:2.65 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:6.26 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.06 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.15 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.95 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.1 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 16.76 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 20.04 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 13.28 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 78.4 yearsmale: 75.9 yearsfemale: 81.05 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.63 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:600 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 500 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Jordanian(s)adjective: Jordanian
Ethnic groups:Arab 98%, Circassian 1%, Armenian 1%
Religions:Sunni Muslim 92%, Christian 6% (majority Greek Orthodox, but someGreek and Roman Catholics, Syrian Orthodox, Coptic Orthodox,Armenian Orthodox, and Protestant denominations), other 2% (severalsmall Shi'a Muslim and Druze populations) (2001 est.)
Languages:Arabic (official), English widely understood among upper and middleclasses
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 91.3%male: 95.9%female: 86.3% (2003 est.)
Government Jordan
Country name:conventional long form: Hashemite Kingdom of Jordanconventional short form: Jordanlocal long form: Al Mamlakah al Urduniyah al Hashimiyahlocal short form: Al Urdunformer: Transjordan
Government type:constitutional monarchy
Capital:name: Ammangeographic coordinates: 31 57 N, 35 56 Etime difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Thursday in March; ends lastFriday in September
Administrative divisions:12 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Ajlun, Al'Aqabah, Al Balqa', Al Karak, Al Mafraq, 'Amman, At Tafilah, AzZarqa', Irbid, Jarash, Ma'an, Madaba
Independence:25 May 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under Britishadministration)
National holiday:Independence Day, 25 May (1946)
Constitution:1 January 1952; amended 1954, 1955, 1958, 1960, 1965, 1973, 1974,1976, 1984
Legal system:based on Islamic law and French codes; judicial review oflegislative acts in a specially provided High Tribunal; has notaccepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: King ABDALLAH II (since 7 February 1999); PrinceHUSSEIN (born 1994), eldest son of King ABDALLAH, is first in lineto inherit the thronehead of government: Prime Minister Marouf al-BAKHIT (since 24November 2005); Deputy Prime Minister Ziad FARIZ (since 24 November2005)cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister in consultationwith the monarchelections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister appointedby the monarch
Legislative branch:bicameral National Assembly or Majlis al-'Umma consists of theSenate, also called the House of Notables (Majlis al-Ayan) (55seats; members appointed by the monarch from designated categoriesof public figures; members serve four-year terms) and the House ofRepresentatives, also called the House of Deputies (Majlisal-Nuwaab) (110 seats; members elected by popular vote on the basisof proportional representation to serve four-year terms); note - sixseats are reserved for women and are allocated by a specialelectoral panel if no women are electedelections: House of Representatives - last held 17 June 2003 (nextto be held in 2007)election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote byparty - independents and other 89.6%, IAF 10.4%; seats by party -independents and other 92, IAF 18; note - one of the six quota seatswas given to a female IAF candidatenote: the House of Representatives has been convened and dissolvedby the monarch several times since 1974; in November 1989, the firstparliamentary elections in 22 years were held; political partieswere not legalized until 1992; King ABDALLAH delayed the 2001elections until 2003
Judicial branch:Court of Cassation; Supreme Court (court of final appeal)
Political parties and leaders:al-Ahd Party; Arab Islamic Democratic Movement [Yusuf ABU BAKR,president]; Arab Land Party [Dr. Ayishah Salih HIJAZAYN, secretarygeneral]; Arab Socialist Ba'th Party [Taysir al-HIMSI, secretarygeneral]; Ba'th Arab Progressive Party [Fu'ad DABBUR, secretarygeneral]; Freedom Party; Future Party; Islamic Action Front or IAF[Zaki Sa'ed BANI IRSHEID, secretary general]; Islamic Center Party[Marwan al-FAURI, secretary general]; Jordanian Arab Ansar Party;Jordanian Arab New Dawn Party; Jordanian Arab Party; JordanianCitizens' Rights Movement; Jordanian Communist Party [MunirHAMARINAH, secretary general]; Jordanian Communist Workers Party;Jordanian Democratic Left Party [Musa MA'AYTEH, secretary general];Jordanian Democratic Popular Unity Party [Sa'id Dhiyab Ali MUSTAFA,secretary general]; Jordanian Generations Party [Muhammad KHALAYLEH,secretary general]; Jordanian Green Party [Muhammad BATAYNEH,secretary general]; Jordanian Labor Party [Dr. Mazin Sulayman JiryisHANNA, secretary general]; Jordanian Peace Party; Jordanian People'sCommittees Movement; Jordanian People's Democratic Party (Hashd)[Ahmad YUSUF, secretary general]; Jordanian Rafah Party; JordanianRenaissance Party; Mission Party; Nation Party [Ahmad al-HANANDEH,secretary general]; National Action Party (Haqq) [Tariq al-KAYYALI,secretary general]; National Constitutional Party [Abdul HadiMAJALI, secretary general]; National Popular Democratic Movement[Mahmud al-NUWAYHI, secretary general]; Progressive Party [Fawwazal-ZUBI, secretary general]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Anti-Normalization Committee [Ali Abu SUKKAR, president vicechairman]; Jordan Bar Association [Hussein Mujalli, chairman];Jordanian Press Association [Sayf al-SHARIF, president]; MuslimBrotherhood [Salem AL-FALAHAT, secretary general]
International organization participation:ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, CAEU, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt,ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM, OIC, ONUB,OPCW, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE,UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Karim Tawfiq KAWAR chancery: 3504 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 966-2664 FAX: [1] (202) 966-3110
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador David M. HALE embassy: Abdoun, Amman mailing address: P. O. Box 354, Amman 11118 Jordan; Unit 70200, Box 5, APO AE 09892-0200 telephone: [962] (6) 590-6000 FAX: [962] (6) 592-0121
Flag description:three equal horizontal bands of black (top), representing theAbbassid Caliphate, white, representing the Ummayyad Caliphate, andgreen, representing the Fatimid Caliphate; a red isosceles triangleon the hoist side, representing the Great Arab Revolt of 1916, andbearing a small white seven-pointed star symbolizing the sevenverses of the opening Sura (Al-Fatiha) of the Holy Koran; the sevenpoints on the star represent faith in One God, humanity, nationalspirit, humility, social justice, virtue, and aspirations; design isbased on the Arab Revolt flag of World War I
Economy Jordan
Economy - overview:Jordan is a small Arab country with inadequate supplies of waterand other natural resources such as oil. Debt, poverty, andunemployment are fundamental problems, but King ABDALLAH, sinceassuming the throne in 1999, has undertaken some broad economicreforms in a long-term effort to improve living standards. 'Amman inthe past three years has worked closely with the IMF, practicedcareful monetary policy, and made substantial headway withprivatization. The government also has liberalized the trade regimesufficiently to secure Jordan's membership in the WTO (2000), a freetrade accord with the US (2001), and an association agreement withthe EU (2001). These measures have helped improve productivity andhave put Jordan on the foreign investment map. Jordan imported mostof its oil from Iraq, but the US-led war in Iraq in 2003 made Jordanmore dependent on oil from other Gulf nations, forcing the JordanianGovernment to raise retail petroleum product prices and the salestax base. Jordan's export market, which is heavily dependent onexports to Iraq, was also affected by the war but recovered quicklywhile contributing to the Iraq recovery effort. The main challengesfacing Jordan are reducing dependence on foreign grants, reducingthe budget deficit, and creating investment incentives to promotejob creation.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$26.85 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$11.51 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:5.8% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$4,700 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 3.3% industry: 28.7% services: 68% (2005 est.)
Labor force: 1.46 million (2005 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 5% industry: 12.5% services: 82.5% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate:12.5% official rate; unofficial rate is approximately 30% (2004est.)
Population below poverty line:30% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.3% highest 10%: 29.8% (1997)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:36.4 (1997)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):4.5% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):20.2% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:revenues: $2.8 billionexpenditures: $4.688 billion; including capital expenditures of$1.092 billion (2005 est.)
Public debt:79.1% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:wheat, barley, citrus, tomatoes, melons, olives; sheep, goats,poultry
Industries:textiles, phosphate mining, fertilizers, pharmaceuticals, petroleumrefining, cement, potash, inorganic chemicals, light manufacturing,tourism
Industrial production growth rate:7.5% (2005 est.)
Electricity - production:7.517 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 99.4% hydro: 0.6% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:7.959 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:4 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:972 million kWh (2003)
Oil - production:40 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:103,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports:0 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - imports:100,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - proved reserves:445,000 bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:390 million cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:390 million cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:6.23 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:$-1.613 billion (2005 est.)
Exports:$4.226 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:clothing, phosphates, fertilizers, potash, vegetables,manufactures, pharmaceuticals
Exports - partners:US 29.4%, Iraq 15.6%, India 8.8%, Saudi Arabia 5.9% (2005)
Imports:$8.681 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:crude oil, textile fabrics, machinery, transport equipment,manufactured goods
Imports - partners:Saudi Arabia 20.9%, China 8%, Germany 7.1%, US 6.2%, South Korea4.1% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$5.463 billion (2005 est.)
Debt - external:$8.528 billion (2005 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:ODA, $500 million (2004 est.)
Currency (code):Jordanian dinar (JOD)
Currency code:JOD
Exchange rates:Jordanian dinars per US dollar - 0.709 (2005), 0.709 (2004), 0.709(2003), 0.709 (2002), 0.709 (2001)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Jordan
Telephones - main lines in use:617,300 (2004)
Telephones - mobile cellular:1,594,500 (2004)
Telephone system:general assessment: service has improved recently with increaseduse of digital switching equipment, but better access to thetelephone system is needed in the rural areas and easier access topay telephones is needed by the urban publicdomestic: microwave radio relay transmission and coaxial andfiber-optic cable are employed on trunk lines; considerable use ofmobile cellular systems; Internet service is availableinternational: country code - 962; satellite earth stations - 3Intelsat, 1 Arabsat, and 29 land and maritime Inmarsat terminals;fiber-optic cable to Saudi Arabia and microwave radio relay linkwith Egypt and Syria; connection to international submarine cableFLAG (Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe); participant in MEDARABTEL;international links total about 4,000
Radio broadcast stations:AM 6, FM 5, shortwave 1 (1999)
Radios:1.66 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:20 (plus 96 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:500,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.jo
Internet hosts:3,441 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):5 (2000)
Internet users:629,500 (2005)
Transportation Jordan
Airports: 17 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 15 over 3,047 m: 7 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 2under 914 m: 2 (2006)
Heliports:1 (2006)
Pipelines:gas 426 km; oil 49 km (2006)
Railways:total: 505 kmnarrow gauge: 505 km 1.050-m gauge (2005)
Roadways:total: 7,364 kmpaved: 7,364 km (2003)
Merchant marine:total: 25 ships (1000 GRT or over) 346,698 GRT/501,060 DWTby type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 9, container 2, passenger/cargo 6,petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 4foreign-owned: 11 (UAE 11)registered in other countries: 15 (Bahamas 2, Panama 13) (2006)
Ports and terminals:Al 'Aqabah
Military Jordan
Military branches:Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF): Royal Jordanian Land Force, RoyalJordanian Navy, Royal Jordanian Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiyaal-Malakiya al-Urduniya), Special Operations Command (Socom); PublicSecurity Directorate (normally falls under Ministry of Interior, butcomes under JAF in wartime or crisis situations) (2006)
Military service age and obligation: 17 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription at age 18 was suspended in 1999, although all males under age 37 are required to register; women not subject to conscription, but can volunteer to serve in non-combat military positions (2004)
Manpower available for military service:males age 17-49: 1,573,995females age 17-49: 1,346,642 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 17-49: 1,348,076females age 17-49: 1,158,011 (2005 est.)