Natural hazards:dust-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (December to March)
Environment - current issues: tropical rain forest deforestation; soil erosion; loss of biodiversity; pollution of coastal waters from oil residue and raw sewage
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94 signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note:facing the Atlantic Ocean, the coastline is characterized bylagoons, mangrove swamps, and river-deposited sandbars; the inlandgrassy plateau supports limited agriculture
People Liberia
Population:3,042,004 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 43.1% (male 656,016/female 653,734)15-64 years: 54.2% (male 816,443/female 832,152)65 years and over: 2.8% (male 40,591/female 43,068) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 18.1 yearsmale: 18 yearsfemale: 18.3 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:4.91% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:44.77 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:23.1 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:27.39 migrant(s)/1,000 populationnote: at least 238,500 Liberian refugees are in surroundingcountries; the uncertain security situation has hindered theirability to return (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 155.76 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 171.96 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 139.06 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 39.65 yearsmale: 37.99 yearsfemale: 41.35 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:6.02 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:5.9% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:100,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:7,200 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:degree of risk: very highfood or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,hepatitis A, and typhoid fevervectorborne diseases: malaria and yellow fever are high risks insome locationswater contact disease: schistosomiasisaerosolized dust or soil contact disease: Lassa fever (2005)
Nationality:noun: Liberian(s)adjective: Liberian
Ethnic groups:indigenous African 95% (including Kpelle, Bassa, Gio, Kru, Grebo,Mano, Krahn, Gola, Gbandi, Loma, Kissi, Vai, Dei, Bella, Mandingo,and Mende), Americo-Liberians 2.5% (descendants of immigrants fromthe US who had been slaves), Congo People 2.5% (descendants ofimmigrants from the Caribbean who had been slaves)
Religions:indigenous beliefs 40%, Christian 40%, Muslim 20%
Languages:English 20% (official), some 20 ethnic group languages, of which afew can be written and are used in correspondence
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 57.5%male: 73.3%female: 41.6% (2003 est.)
Government Liberia
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Liberiaconventional short form: Liberia
Government type:republic
Capital:name: Monroviageographic coordinates: 6 18 N, 10 47 Wtime difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)
Administrative divisions:15 counties; Bomi, Bong, Gbarpolu, Grand Bassa, Grand Cape Mount,Grand Gedeh, Grand Kru, Lofa, Margibi, Maryland, Montserrado, Nimba,River Cess, River Gee, Sinoe
Independence:26 July 1847
National holiday:Independence Day, 26 July (1847)
Constitution:6 January 1986
Legal system:dual system of statutory law based on Anglo-American common law forthe modern sector and customary law based on unwritten tribalpractices for indigenous sector; accepts compulsory ICJjurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Ellen JOHNSON-SIRLEAF (since 16 January2006); note - the President is both the chief of state and head ofgovernmenthead of government: President Ellen JOHNSON-SIRLEAF (since 6 January2006); note - the President is both the chief of state and head ofgovernmentcabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president and confirmed by theSenateelections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term(eligible for a second term); election last held 8 November 2005(next to be held NA 2011)election results: Ellen JOHNSON-SIRLEAF elected president; percentof vote, second round - Ellen JOHNSON-SIRLEAF (UP) 59.6%, GeorgeWEAH (CDC) 40.4%note: a UN-brokered cease-fire among warring factions and theLiberian Government resulted in the August 2003 resignation offormer president, Charles TAYLOR; a jointly agreed upon replacement,Chairman Gyude BRYANT, assumed office as head of the NationalTransitional Government on 14 October 2003; free elections were held11 October 2005, with a runoff election between the two leadingcandidates on 8 November 2005
Legislative branch:bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate (30 seats -number of seats changed in 11 October 2005 elections; memberselected by popular vote to serve nine-year terms) and the House ofRepresentatives (64 seats; members elected by popular vote to servesix-year terms)elections: Senate - last held 11 October 2005 (next to be held in2014); House of Representatives - last held 11 October 2005 (next tobe held NA 2011)election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats byparty - COTOL 7, NPP 4, CDC 3, LP 3, UP 3, APD 3, other 7; House ofRepresentatives - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -CDC 15, LP 9, UP 8, COTOL 8, APD 5, NPP 4, other 15note: the current six-year term for junior senators - those whoreceived the second most votes in the election - is mandated by theLiberian constitution to stagger Senate elections and ensurecontinuity of government
Judicial branch:Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:Alliance for Peace and Democracy or APD [Togba-na TIPOTEH];Coalition for the Transformation of Liberia or COTOL; Congress forDemocratic Change or CDC [George WEAH]; Liberian Action Party or LAP[H. Varney SHERMAN]; Liberty Party or LP [Charles BRUMSKINE];National Patriotic Party or NPP [Cyril ALLEN]; Unity Party or UP[Charles CLARKE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU,ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU,ITU, NAM, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL,WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Charles A. MINOR chancery: 5201 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011 telephone: [1] (202) 723-0437 FAX: [1] (202) 723-0436 consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Donald E. BOOTHembassy: 111 United Nations Drive, P. O. Box 10-0098, Mamba Point,1000 Monrovia, 10mailing address: use embassy street addresstelephone: [231] 226-370 through 226-380FAX: [231] 226-148
Flag description:11 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternatingwith white; there is a white five-pointed star on a blue square inthe upper hoist-side corner; the design was based on the US flag
Economy Liberia
Economy - overview:Civil war and government mismanagement have destroyed much ofLiberia's economy, especially the infrastructure in and aroundMonrovia, while continued international sanctions on diamonds andtimber exports will limit growth prospects for the foreseeablefuture. Many businessmen have fled the country, taking capital andexpertise with them. Some have returned, but many will not. Richlyendowed with water, mineral resources, forests, and a climatefavorable to agriculture, Liberia had been a producer and exporterof basic products - primarily raw timber and rubber. Localmanufacturing, mainly foreign owned, had been small in scope. Thedeparture of the former president, Charles TAYLOR, to Nigeria inAugust 2003, the establishment of the all-inclusive TransitionalGovernment, and the arrival of a UN mission have helped defuse thepolitical crisis, but have done little to encourage economicdevelopment. Wealthy international donors, who are ready to assistreconstruction efforts, are withholding funding until Liberia'sNational Assembly signs onto a Governance and Economic ManagementAction Plan (GEMAP). The Plan was created in October 2005 by theInternational Contact Group for Liberia to help ensure transparentrevenue collection and allocation - something that was lacking underthe Transitional Government and that has limited Liberia's economicrecovery. The reconstruction of infrastructure and the raising ofincomes in this ravaged economy will largely depend on generousfinancial support and technical assistance from donor countries.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$2.643 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$902.9 million
GDP - real growth rate:9.8% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$900 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 76.9%industry: 5.4%services: 17.7% (2002 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture: 70%industry: 8%services: 22% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:85% (2003 est.)
Population below poverty line:80%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):15% (2003 est.)
Budget:revenues: $85.4 millionexpenditures: $90.5 million; including capital expenditures of $NA(2000 est.)
Agriculture - products: rubber, coffee, cocoa, rice, cassava (tapioca), palm oil, sugarcane, bananas; sheep, goats; timber
Industries:rubber processing, palm oil processing, timber, diamonds
Industrial production growth rate:NA%
Electricity - production:509.4 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:473.8 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2003)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - consumption:3,400 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - imports:NA bbl/day
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:0 cu m (2003 est.)
Exports:$910 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:rubber, timber, iron, diamonds, cocoa, coffee
Exports - partners:Belgium 41.4%, Spain 11.6%, US 9.1%, Malaysia 5.5%, Thailand 4.6%,Poland 4.6%, Germany 4.4% (2005)
Imports:$4.839 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:fuels, chemicals, machinery, transportation equipment, manufacturedgoods; foodstuffs
Imports - partners:South Korea 37.9%, Japan 21.1%, Singapore 14.2%, Croatia 4.7% (2005)
Debt - external:$3.2 billion (2005 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$94 million (1999)
Currency (code):Liberian dollar (LRD)
Currency code:LRD
Exchange rates:Liberian dollars per US dollar - NA (2005), 54.906 (2004), 59.379(2003), 61.754 (2002), 48.583 (2001)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Liberia
Telephones - main lines in use:6,900 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:160,000 (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: the limited services available are found almostexclusively in the capital Monroviadomestic: fully automatic system with very low density of .23 fixedmain lines per 100 persons; limited wireless service availableinternational: country code - 231; satellite earth station - 1Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 0, FM 7, shortwave 2 (2001)
Radios:790,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:1 (plus four low-power repeaters) (2001)
Televisions:70,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.lr
Internet hosts:8 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):2 (2001)
Internet users:1,000 (2002)
Transportation Liberia
Airports: 53 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 51 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 38 (2006)
Railways:total: 490 kmstandard gauge: 345 km 1.435-m gaugenarrow gauge: 145 km 1.067-m gaugenote: railway is inoperable because of damage suffered during thecivil war (2005)
Roadways:total: 10,600 kmpaved: 657 kmunpaved: 9,943 km (1999)
Merchant marine:total: 1,687 ships (1000 GRT or over) 62,522,787 GRT/96,776,521 DWTby type: barge carrier 3, bulk carrier 322, cargo 83, chemicaltanker 199, combination ore/oil 2, container 477, liquefied gas 75,passenger 2, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 397, refrigeratedcargo 76, roll on/roll off 4, specialized tanker 11, vehicle carrier35foreign-owned: 1,611 (Argentina 7, Australia 2, Austria 13, Bahamas,The 1, Bermuda 1, Brazil 3, Canada 2, China 35, Croatia 7, Cyprus 3,Denmark 8, Estonia 1, France 3, Germany 587, Greece 267, Hong Kong37, India 3, Indonesia 1, Isle of Man 5, Israel 5, Italy 16, Japan102, South Korea 3, Kuwait 1, Latvia 14, Lebanon 2, Mexico 1, Monaco10, Netherlands 29, Norway 38, Poland 14, Qatar 2, Russia 77, SaudiArabia 24, Singapore 28, Slovenia 2, Sweden 8, Switzerland 7, Taiwan69, Turkey 1, UAE 18, UK 41, Ukraine 16, Uruguay 3, US 93, unknown1) (2006)
Ports and terminals:Buchanan, Monrovia
Military Liberia
Military branches:Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL): Army, Navy, Air Force
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription(2001)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 575,384females age 18-49: 588,780 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 267,430females age 18-49: 286,231 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$67.4 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:7.5% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Liberia
Disputes - international:although Liberia's domestic fighting among disparate rebel groups,warlords, and youth gangs was declared over in 2003, civil unrestpersists, and in 2004, 133,000 Liberian refugees remained in Guinea,72,000 in Cote d'Ivoire, 67,000 in Sierra Leone, and 43,000 inGhana; Liberia, in turn, shelters refugees fleeing turmoil in Coted'Ivoire and Sierra Leone; since 2003, the UN Mission in Liberia(UNMIL) has maintained about 18,000 peacekeepers in Liberia; theCote d'Ivoire Government accuses Liberia of supporting Ivoirianrebels; UN sanctions ban Liberia from exporting diamonds and timber
Refugees and internally displaced persons:refugees (country of origin): 13,941 (Sierra Leone) 12,408 (Coted'Ivoire)IDPs: 464,000 (civil war from 1990-2004; IDP resettlement began inNovember 2004) (2005)
Illicit drugs:transshipment point for Southeast and Southwest Asian heroin andSouth American cocaine for the European and US markets; corruption,criminal activity, arms-dealing, and diamond trade providesignificant potential for money laundering, but the lack ofwell-developed financial system limits the country's utility as amajor money-laundering center
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
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@Libya
Introduction Libya
Background:The Italians supplanted the Ottoman Turks from the area aroundTripoli in 1911 and did not reliquish their hold until 1943 whendefeated in World War II. Libya then passed to UN administration andachieved independence in 1951. Following a 1969 military coup, Col.Muammar Abu Minyar al-QADHAFI began to espouse his own politicalsystem, the Third Universal Theory. The system is a combination ofsocialism and Islam derived in part from tribal practices and issupposed to be implemented by the Libyan people themselves in aunique form of "direct democracy." QADHAFI has always seen himselfas a revolutionary and visionary leader. He used oil funds duringthe 1970s and 1980s to promote his ideology outside Libya,supporting subversives and terrorists abroad to hasten the end ofMarxism and capitalism. In addition, beginning in 1973, he engagedin military operations in northern Chad's Aozou Strip - to gainaccess to minerals and to use as a base of influence in Chadianpolitics - but was forced to retreat in 1987. UN sanctions in 1992isolated QADHAFI politically following the downing of Pan AM Flight103 over Lockerbie, Scotland. Libyan support for terrorism appearedto have decreased after the imposition of sanctions. During the1990s, QADHAFI also began to rebuild his relationships with Europe.UN sanctions were suspended in April 1999 and finally lifted inSeptember 2003 after Libya resolved the Lockerbie case. In December2003, Libya announced that it had agreed to reveal and end itsprograms to develop weapons of mass destruction, and QADHAFI hasmade significant strides in normalizing relations with westernnations since then. He has received various Western European leadersas well as many working-level and commercial delegations, and madehis first trip to Western Europe in 15 years when he traveled toBrussels in April 2004. QADHAFI also finally resolved in 2004several outstanding cases against his government for terroristactivities in the 1980s by compensating the families of victims ofthe UTA and La Belle disco bombings.
Geography Libya
Location:Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt andTunisia
Geographic coordinates:25 00 N, 17 00 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 1,759,540 sq kmland: 1,759,540 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly larger than Alaska
Land boundaries:total: 4,348 kmborder countries: Algeria 982 km, Chad 1,055 km, Egypt 1,115 km,Niger 354 km, Sudan 383 km, Tunisia 459 km
Coastline:1,770 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmnote: Gulf of Sidra closing line - 32 degrees, 30 minutes north
Climate:Mediterranean along coast; dry, extreme desert interior
Terrain:mostly barren, flat to undulating plains, plateaus, depressions
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Sabkhat Ghuzayyil -47 m highest point: Bikku Bitti 2,267 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, gypsum
Land use: arable land: 1.03% permanent crops: 0.19% other: 98.78% (2005)
Irrigated land:4,700 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:hot, dry, dust-laden ghibli is a southern wind lasting one to fourdays in spring and fall; dust storms, sandstorms
Environment - current issues:desertification; very limited natural fresh water resources; theGreat Manmade River Project, the largest water development scheme inthe world, is being built to bring water from large aquifers underthe Sahara to coastal cities
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note: more than 90% of the country is desert or semidesert
People Libya
Population: 5,900,754 note: includes 166,510 non-nationals (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 33.6% (male 1,012,748/female 969,978)15-64 years: 62.2% (male 1,891,643/female 1,778,621)65 years and over: 4.2% (male 121,566/female 126,198) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 23 yearsmale: 23.1 yearsfemale: 22.9 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:2.3% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:26.49 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:3.48 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: 1.04 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.96 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 23.71 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 25.99 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 21.32 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 76.69 yearsmale: 74.46 yearsfemale: 79.02 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:3.28 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.3% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:10,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Major infectious diseases:degree of risk: intermediatefood or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, andtyphoid fevervectorborne diseases: may be a significant risk in some locationsduring the transmission season (typically April through October)(2005)
Nationality:noun: Libyan(s)adjective: Libyan
Ethnic groups:Berber and Arab 97%, Greeks, Maltese, Italians, Egyptians,Pakistanis, Turks, Indians, Tunisians
Religions:Sunni Muslim 97%
Languages:Arabic, Italian, English, all are widely understood in the majorcities
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 82.6%male: 92.4%female: 72% (2003 est.)
Government Libya
Country name:conventional long form: Great Socialist People's Libyan ArabJamahiriyaconventional short form: Libyalocal long form: Al Jumahiriyah al Arabiyah al Libiyah ash Shabiyahal Ishtirakiyah al Uzmalocal short form: none
Government type:Jamahiriya (a state of the masses) in theory, governed by thepopulace through local councils; in fact, a military dictatorship
Capital:name: Tripoligeographic coordinates: 32 54 N, 13 11 Etime difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)
Administrative divisions:25 municipalities (baladiyat, singular - baladiyah); Ajdabiya, Al'Aziziyah, Al Fatih, Al Jabal al Akhdar, Al Jufrah, Al Khums, AlKufrah, An Nuqat al Khams, Ash Shati', Awbari, Az Zawiyah, Banghazi,Darnah, Ghadamis, Gharyan, Misratah, Murzuq, Sabha, Sawfajjin, Surt,Tarabulus, Tarhunah, Tubruq, Yafran, Zlitan; note - the 25municipalities may have been replaced by 13 regions
Independence:24 December 1951 (from UN trusteeship)
National holiday:Revolution Day, 1 September (1969)
Constitution:11 December 1969; amended 2 March 1977
Legal system:based on Italian civil law system and Islamic law; separatereligious courts; no constitutional provision for judicial review oflegislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:chief of state: Revolutionary Leader Col. Muammar Abu Minyaral-QADHAFI (since 1 September 1969); note - holds no official title,but is de facto chief of statehead of government: Secretary of the General People's Committee(Prime Minister) al-Baghdadi Ali al-MAHMUDI (since 5 March 2006)cabinet: General People's Committee established by the GeneralPeople's Congresselections: national elections are indirect through a hierarchy ofpeople's committees; head of government elected by the GeneralPeople's Congress; election last held 2 March 2000 (next to be heldNA)election results: NA
Legislative branch:unicameral General People's Congress (NA seats; members electedindirectly through a hierarchy of people's committees)
Judicial branch:Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:none
Political pressure groups and leaders:various Arab nationalist movements with almost negligiblememberships may be functioning clandestinely, as well as someIslamic elements; an anti-QADHAFI Libyan exile movement exists,primarily based in London, but has little influence
International organization participation:ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, AU, CAEU, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA,IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW,OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO,WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Ali AUJALIchancery: 2600 Virginia Avenue NW, Suite 705, Washington, DC 20037telephone: [1] (202) 944-9601FAX: [1] (202) 944-9060
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires ad InterimGregory L. BERRYembassy: Corinthia Bab Africa Hotel, Souq At-Tlat Al-Qadim, Tripolimailing address: US Embassy, 8850 Tripoli Place, Washington, DC20521-8850telephone: [218] 21-335-1848
Flag description:plain green; green is the traditional color of Islam (the statereligion)
Economy Libya
Economy - overview:The Libyan economy depends primarily upon revenues from the oilsector, which contribute about 95% of export earnings, aboutone-quarter of GDP, and 60% of public sector wages. Substantialrevenues from the energy sector coupled with a small population giveLibya one of the highest per capita GDPs in Africa, but little ofthis income flows down to the lower orders of society. Libyanofficials in the past four years have made progress on economicreforms as part of a broader campaign to reintegrate the countryinto the international fold. This effort picked up steam after UNsanctions were lifted in September 2003 and as Libya announced thatit would abandon programs to build weapons of mass destruction inDecember 2003. Almost all US unilateral sanctions against Libya wereremoved in April 2004, helping Libya attract more foreign directinvestment, mostly in the energy sector. Libya faces a long roadahead in liberalizing the socialist-oriented economy, but initialsteps - including applying for WTO membership, reducing somesubsidies, and announcing plans for privatization - are laying thegroundwork for a transition to a more market-based economy. Thenon-oil manufacturing and construction sectors, which account forabout 20% of GDP, have expanded from processing mostly agriculturalproducts to include the production of petrochemicals, iron, steel,and aluminum. Climatic conditions and poor soils severely limitagricultural output, and Libya imports about 75% of its food.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$68 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$31.49 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:8.4% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$11,800 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 7.6% industry: 49.9% services: 42.5% (2005 est.)
Labor force: 1.64 million (2005 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 17% industry: 23% services: 59% (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate:30% (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):3.4% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):11.4% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:revenues: $25.34 billionexpenditures: $15.47 billion; including capital expenditures of $5.6billion (2005 est.)
Public debt:8.2% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:wheat, barley, olives, dates, citrus, vegetables, peanuts,soybeans; cattle
Industries:petroleum, iron and steel, food processing, textiles, handicrafts,cement
Industrial production growth rate:NA%
Electricity - production:14.4 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:13.39 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2003)
Oil - production:1.643 million bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption:237,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports:1.34 million bbl/day NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:0 bbl/day NA bbl/day
Oil - proved reserves:40 billion bbl (2005 est.)
Natural gas - production:7 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:6.25 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - exports:770 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:1.321 trillion cu m (2005)
Current account balance:$10.73 billion (2005 est.)
Exports:$30.79 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:crude oil, refined petroleum products, natural gas
Exports - partners:Italy 37.9%, Germany 15.2%, Spain 8.7%, Turkey 6.3%, France 6.2%,US 5.2% (2005)
Imports:$10.82 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery, transport equipment, semi-finished goods, food, consumerproducts
Imports - partners:Italy 21.5%, Germany 10.4%, Tunisia 5.6%, Turkey 4.9%, UK 4.9%,France 4.8%, South Korea 4.7%, China 4.6% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$39.7 billion (2005 est.)
Debt - external:$4.267 billion (2005 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:ODA, $4.4 million (2002)
Currency (code):Libyan dinar (LYD)
Currency code:LYD
Exchange rates:Libyan dinars per US dollar - 1.3084 (2005), 1.305 (2004), 1.2929(2003), 1.2707 (2002), 0.6051 (2001)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Libya
Telephones - main lines in use:750,000 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:234,800 (2004)
Telephone system:general assessment: telecommunications system is being modernized;mobile cellular telephone system became operational in 1996domestic: microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, cellular,tropospheric scatter, and a domestic satellite system with 14 earthstationsinternational: country code - 218; satellite earth stations - 4Intelsat, NA Arabsat, and NA Intersputnik; submarine cables toFrance and Italy; microwave radio relay to Tunisia and Egypt;tropospheric scatter to Greece; participant in Medarabtel (1999)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 16, FM 3, shortwave 3 (2002)
Radios:1.35 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:12 (plus one low-power repeater) (1999)
Televisions:730,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.ly
Internet hosts:31 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2002)
Internet users:205,000 (2005)
Transportation Libya
Airports: 141 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 60over 3,047 m: 232,438 to 3,047 m: 61,524 to 2,437 m: 23914 to 1,523 m: 6under 914 m: 2 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 81over 3,047 m: 52,438 to 3,047 m: 21,524 to 2,437 m: 15914 to 1,523 m: 41under 914 m: 18 (2006)
Heliports:2 (2006)
Pipelines:condensate 882 km; gas 3,481 km; oil 6,916 km (2006)
Railways:0 kmnote: Libya is working on seven lines totaling 2,757 km of 1.435-mgauge track; it hopes to have trains running by 2008 (2005)
Roadways:total: 83,200 kmpaved: 47,590 kmunpaved: 35,610 km (1999)
Merchant marine:total: 18 ships (1000 GRT or over) 86,034 GRT/89,820 DWTby type: cargo 10, liquefied gas 3, passenger/cargo 1, petroleumtanker 2, roll on/roll off 2foreign-owned: 4 (Kuwait 1, Norway 1, Turkey 2) (2006)
Ports and terminals:As Sidrah, Az Zuwaytinah, Marsa al Burayqah, Ra's Lanuf, Tripoli,Zawiyah
Military Libya
Military branches:Armed Peoples on Duty (APOD, Army), Libyan Arab Navy, Libyan ArabAir Force (LAAF) (2006)
Military service age and obligation:17 years of age (2004)
Manpower available for military service:males age 17-49: 1,505,675females age 17-49: 1,429,152 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 17-49: 1,291,624females age 17-49: 1,230,824 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 62,034females age 17-49: 59,533 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$1.3 billion (FY99)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:3.9% (FY99)
Transnational Issues Libya
Disputes - international:Libya has claimed more than 32,000 sq km in southeastern Algeriaand about 25,000 sq km in Niger in currently dormant disputes;various Chadian rebels from the Aozou region reside in southern Libya
Trafficking in persons:current situation: Libya is a transit and destination country formen, women, and children from sub-Saharan Africa and Asia traffickedfor forced labor and sexual exploitation; many victims willinglymigrate to Libya en route to Europe with the help of smugglers, butmay be forced into prostitution or work as laborers and beggars topay off their $800-$1,200 smuggling debt; laborers from Egypt,Sudan, and Ethiopia are reportedly trafficked to Libya for thepurpose of labor exploitationtier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Libya is placed on the Tier 2 WatchList for its lack of evidence of increasing efforts to addresstrafficking since 2004
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
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@Liechtenstein
Introduction Liechtenstein
Background:The Principality of Liechtenstein was established within the HolyRoman Empire in 1719; it became a sovereign state in 1806. Until theend of World War I, it was closely tied to Austria, but the economicdevastation caused by that conflict forced Liechtenstein to enterinto a customs and monetary union with Switzerland. Since World WarII (in which Liechtenstein remained neutral), the country's lowtaxes have spurred outstanding economic growth. Shortcomings inbanking regulatory oversight have resulted in concerns about the useof the financial institutions for money laundering. Liechtensteinhas, however, implemented new anti-money-laundering legislation andrecently concluded a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty with the US.
Geography Liechtenstein
Location:Central Europe, between Austria and Switzerland
Geographic coordinates:47 16 N, 9 32 E
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 160 sq kmland: 160 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 76 km border countries: Austria 34.9 km, Switzerland 41.1 km
Coastline:0 km (doubly landlocked)
Maritime claims:none (landlocked)
Climate:continental; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow or rain; coolto moderately warm, cloudy, humid summers
Terrain:mostly mountainous (Alps) with Rhine Valley in western third
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Ruggeller Riet 430 m highest point: Vorder-Grauspitz 2,599 m
Natural resources: hydroelectric potential, arable land
Land use: arable land: 25% permanent crops: 0% other: 75% (2005)
Irrigated land:NA
Natural hazards:NA
Environment - current issues:NA
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, AirPollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85,Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone LayerProtection, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:along with Uzbekistan, one of only two doubly landlocked countriesin the world; variety of microclimatic variations based on elevation
People Liechtenstein
Population:33,987 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 17.4% (male 2,922/female 2,988)15-64 years: 70.2% (male 11,842/female 12,022)65 years and over: 12.4% (male 1,773/female 2,440) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 39.6 yearsmale: 39.2 yearsfemale: 40.1 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:0.78% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:10.21 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:7.18 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:4.77 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.01 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 0.98 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 4.64 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 6.24 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 3.04 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 79.68 yearsmale: 76.1 yearsfemale: 83.28 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.51 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: Liechtensteiner(s)adjective: Liechtenstein
Ethnic groups:Alemannic 86%, Italian, Turkish, and other 14%
Religions:Roman Catholic 76.2%, Protestant 7%, unknown 10.6%, other 6.2%(June 2002)
Languages:German (official), Alemannic dialect
Literacy:definition: age 10 and over can read and writetotal population: 100%male: 100%female: 100%
Government Liechtenstein
Country name:conventional long form: Principality of Liechtensteinconventional short form: Liechtensteinlocal long form: Fuerstentum Liechtensteinlocal short form: Liechtenstein
Government type:constitutional monarchy
Capital:name: Vaduzgeographic coordinates: 47 09 N, 9 31 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:11 communes (Gemeinden, singular - Gemeinde); Balzers, Eschen,Gamprin, Mauren, Planken, Ruggell, Schaan, Schellenberg, Triesen,Triesenberg, Vaduz
Independence:23 January 1719 (Principality of Liechtenstein established); 12July 1806 (independence from the Holy Roman Empire)
National holiday:Assumption Day, 15 August
Constitution:5 October 1921
Legal system:local civil and penal codes; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction,with reservations
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Prince HANS ADAM II (since 13 November 1989,assumed executive powers 26 August 1984); Heir Apparent PrinceALOIS, son of the monarch (born 11 June 1968); note - on 15 August2004, HANS ADAM transferred the official duties of the ruling princeto ALOIS, but HANS ADAM retains status of chief of statehead of government: Head of Government Ottmar HASLER (since 5 April2001) and Deputy Head of Government Rita KIEBER-BECK (since 5 April2001)cabinet: Cabinet elected by the Parliament, confirmed by the monarchelections: none; the monarch is hereditary; following legislativeelections, the leader of the majority party in the Landtag isusually appointed the head of government by the monarch and theleader of the largest minority party in the Landtag is usuallyappointed the deputy head of government by the monarch
Legislative branch:unicameral Parliament or Landtag (25 seats; members are elected bydirect, popular vote under proportional representation to servefour-year terms)elections: last held 11 and 13 March 2005 (next to be held by NA2009)election results: percent of vote by party - FBP 48.7%, VU 38.2%, FL13%; seats by party - FBP 12, VU 10, FL 3
Judicial branch:Supreme Court or Oberster Gerichtshof; Court of Appeal orObergericht
Political parties and leaders:Patriotic Union (was Fatherland Union) or VU [Adolf HEEB];Progressive Citizens' Party or FBP [Otmar HASLER]; The Free List orFL
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:CE, EBRD, EFTA, IAEA, ICCt, ICRM, IFRCS, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITU,OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WCL, WIPO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Claudia FRITSCHE chancery: 888 17th Street NW, Suite 1250, Washington, DC 20006 telephone: [1] (202) 331-0590 FAX: [1] (202) 331-3221
Diplomatic representation from the US:the US does not have an embassy in Liechtenstein, but the USAmbassador to Switzerland is also accredited to Liechtenstein
Flag description:two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a gold crownon the hoist side of the blue band
Economy Liechtenstein
Economy - overview:Despite its small size and limited natural resources, Liechtensteinhas developed into a prosperous, highly industrialized,free-enterprise economy with a vital financial service sector andliving standards on a par with its large European neighbors. TheLiechtenstein economy is widely diversified with a large number ofsmall businesses. Low business taxes - the maximum tax rate is 20% -and easy incorporation rules have induced many holding or so-calledletter box companies to establish nominal offices in Liechtenstein,providing 30% of state revenues. The country participates in acustoms union with Switzerland and uses the Swiss franc as itsnational currency. It imports more than 90% of its energyrequirements. Liechtenstein has been a member of the EuropeanEconomic Area (an organization serving as a bridge between theEuropean Free Trade Association (EFTA) and the EU) since May 1995.The government is working to harmonize its economic policies withthose of an integrated Europe.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$1.786 billion (2001 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$2.487 billion
GDP - real growth rate:11% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$25,000 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 6% NA%industry: 39%services: 55% NA% (1999)
Labor force:29,500 of whom 13,900 commute from Austria, Switzerland, andGermany to work each day (31 December 2001)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 2% industry: 47% services: 51% (31 December 2001)
Unemployment rate:1.3% (September 2002)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):1% (2001)
Budget:revenues: $424.2 millionexpenditures: $414.1 million; including capital expenditures of $NA(1998 est.)
Agriculture - products:wheat, barley, corn, potatoes; livestock, dairy products
Industries:electronics, metal manufacturing, dental products, ceramics,pharmaceuticals, food products, precision instruments, tourism,optical instruments
Industrial production growth rate:NA%
Exports:$2.47 billion (1996)
Exports - commodities:small specialty machinery, connectors for audio and video, partsfor motor vehicles, dental products, hardware, prepared foodstuffs,electronic equipment, optical products
Exports - partners:EU 62.6% (Germany 24.3%, Austria 9.5%, France 8.9%, Italy 6.6%, UK4.6%), US 18.9%, Switzerland 15.7% (2004)
Imports:$917.3 million (1996)
Imports - commodities:agricultural products, raw materials, machinery, metal goods,textiles, foodstuffs, motor vehicles
Imports - partners:EU, Switzerland (2004)
Debt - external:$0 (2001)
Economic aid - recipient:$0
Currency (code):Swiss franc (CHF)
Currency code:CHF
Exchange rates:Swiss francs per US dollar - 1.2452 (2005), 1.2435 (2004), 1.3467(2003), 1.5586 (2002), 1.6876 (2001)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Liechtenstein
Telephones - main lines in use:19,900 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:11,400 (2002)
Telephone system:general assessment: automatic telephone systemdomestic: NAinternational: country code - 423; linked to Swiss networks by cableand microwave radio relay
Radio broadcast stations:AM 0, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:21,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:NA (linked to Swiss networks) (1997)
Televisions:12,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.li
Internet hosts:4,697 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):44 (Liechtenstein and Switzerland) (2000)
Internet users:20,000 (2002)
Transportation Liechtenstein
Pipelines:gas 20 km (2006)
Railways:9 km 1.435-m gauge (electrified)note: belongs to the Austrian Railway System connecting Austria andSwitzerland (2006)
Roadways: total: 380 km paved: 380 km (2006)
Waterways:28 km (2005)
Ports and terminals:none
Military Liechtenstein
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 7,736 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 6,250 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 208 (2005 est.)
Military - note:defense is the responsibility of Switzerland
Transnational Issues Liechtenstein
Disputes - international:in February 2005, the ICJ refused to rule on the restitution ofLiechtenstein's land and property assets in the Czech Republicconfiscated in 1945 as German property
Illicit drugs:has strengthened money-laundering controls, but money launderingremains a concern due to Liechtenstein's sophisticated offshorefinancial services sector
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
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@Lithuania
Introduction Lithuania
Background:Independent between the two World Wars, Lithuania was annexed bythe USSR in 1940. On 11 March 1990, Lithuania became the first ofthe Soviet republics to declare its independence, but Moscow did notrecognize this proclamation until September of 1991 (following theabortive coup in Moscow). The last Russian troops withdrew in 1993.Lithuania subsequently restructured its economy for integration intoWestern European institutions; it joined both NATO and the EU in thespring of 2004.
Geography Lithuania
Location:Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Latvia and Russia
Geographic coordinates:56 00 N, 24 00 E
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 65,200 sq kmland: NA sq kmwater: NA sq km
Area - comparative:slightly larger than West Virginia
Land boundaries:total: 1,613 kmborder countries: Belarus 653.5 km, Latvia 588 km, Poland 103.7 km,Russia (Kaliningrad) 267.8 km
Coastline:90 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate:transitional, between maritime and continental; wet, moderatewinters and summers
Terrain:lowland, many scattered small lakes, fertile soil
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m highest point: Juozapines Kalnas 293.6 m
Natural resources: peat, arable land, amber
Land use: arable land: 44.81% permanent crops: 0.9% other: 54.29% (2005)
Irrigated land:70 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:NA
Environment - current issues: contamination of soil and groundwater with petroleum products and chemicals at military bases
Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
Geography - note:fertile central plains are separated by hilly uplands that areancient glacial deposits
People Lithuania
Population:3,585,906 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 15.5% (male 284,888/female 270,458)15-64 years: 69.1% (male 1,210,557/female 1,265,542)65 years and over: 15.5% (male 190,496/female 363,965) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 38.2 yearsmale: 35.7 yearsfemale: 40.8 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:-0.3% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:8.75 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:10.98 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)