Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$46.99 billion (2005 est.)
Debt - external:$281 billion; note - Norway is a net external creditor (30 June2005)
Economic aid - donor:ODA, $1.4 billion (1998)
Currency (code):Norwegian krone (NOK)
Currency code:NOK
Exchange rates:Norwegian kroner per US dollar - 6.4425 (2005), 6.7408 (2004),7.0802 (2003), 7.9838 (2002), 8.9917 (2001)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Norway
Telephones - main lines in use:2.129 million (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:4.755 million (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: modern in all respects; one of the mostadvanced telecommunications networks in Europedomestic: Norway has a domestic satellite system; moreover, theprevalence of rural areas encourages the wide use of cellular mobilesystems instead of fixed-wire systemsinternational: country code - 47; 2 buried coaxial cable systems; 4coaxial submarine cables; satellite earth stations - NA Eutelsat, NAIntelsat (Atlantic Ocean), and 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Oceanregions); note - Norway shares the Inmarsat earth station with theother Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and Sweden) (1999)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 5, FM at least 650, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:4.03 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:360 (plus 2,729 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:2.03 million (1997)
Internet country code:.no
Internet hosts:1,364,448 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):13 (2000)
Internet users:3.14 million (2005)
Transportation Norway
Airports: 99 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 67 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 12 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 914 to 1,523 m: 13 under 914 m: 29 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 32 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 26 (2006)
Heliports:1 (2006)
Pipelines:condensate 508 km; gas 5,910 km; oil 2,557 km; oil/gas/water 746 km(2006)
Railways:total: 4,077 kmstandard gauge: 4,077 km 1.435-m gauge (2,680 km electrified) (2005)
Roadways:total: 92,513 kmpaved: 71,832 km (including 664 km of expressways)unpaved: 20,681 km (2005)
Waterways:1,577 km (2002)
Merchant marine:total: 724 ships (1000 GRT or over) 14,472,103 GRT/20,245,353 DWTby type: bulk carrier 67, cargo 153, chemical tanker 150, container2, liquefied gas 79, passenger/cargo 121, petroleum tanker 75,refrigerated cargo 9, roll on/roll off 19, specialized tanker 2,vehicle carrier 47foreign-owned: 168 (China 3, Cyprus 2, Denmark 32, Estonia 1,Finland 4, Greece 1, Hong Kong 55, Iceland 4, Italy 4, Japan 1,Lithuania 1, Monaco 4, Netherlands 3, Poland 2, Saudi Arabia 3,Sweden 28, UAE 1, UK 6, US 13)registered in other countries: 861 (Antigua and Barbuda 11,Australia 1, Bahamas 259, Barbados 29, Belize 2, Bermuda 5, Brazil2, Cambodia 1, Canada 1, Cayman Islands 2, China 1, Comoros 1, CookIslands 1, Cyprus 16, Denmark 3, Dominica 1, Ecuador 1, Estonia 2,Faroe Islands 4, Finland 1, France 1, French Southern and AntarcticLands 12, Gibraltar 18, Hong Kong 26, Indonesia 1, Isle of Man 27,Liberia 38, Libya 1, Malta 49, Marshall Islands 65, Mexico 1,Netherlands 7, Netherlands Antilles 5, Nigeria 1, Panama 66,Philippines 3, Portugal 4, Russia 1, Saint Vincent and theGrenadines 16, Singapore 90, Spain 7, Sweden 7, Thailand 30, Tonga1, UK 36, US 2, unknown 2) (2006)
Ports and terminals:Borg Havn, Bergen, Mo i Rana, Molde, Mongstad, Narvik, Oslo, Sture
Military Norway
Military branches:Norwegian Army (Haeren), Royal Norwegian Navy (Kongelige NorskeSjoeforsvaret, RNoN; includes Coastal Rangers and Coast Guard(Kystvakt)), Royal Norwegian Air Force (Kongelige NorskeLuftforsvaret, RNoAF), Home Guard (Heimevernet, HV) (2006)
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age for compulsory military service; 16 years of age inwartime; 17 years of age for male volunteers; 18 years of age forwomen; 16 years of age for volunteers to the Home Guard; conscriptservice obligation - 12 months (2004)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 1,014,592females age 18-49: 982,734 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 827,016females age 18-49: 801,358 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 29,179females age 18-49: 28,023 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$4,033.5 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.9% (2003)
Transnational Issues Norway
Disputes - international:Norway asserts a territorial claim in Antarctica (Queen Maud Landand its continental shelf); despite recent discussions, Russia andNorway continue to dispute their maritime limits in the Barents Seaand Russia's fishing rights beyond Svalbard's territorial limitswithin the Svalbard Treaty zone
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
======================================================================
@Oman
Introduction Oman
Background:The inhabitants of the area of Oman have long prospered on IndianOcean trade. In the late 18th century, a newly established sultanatein Muscat signed the first in a series of friendship treaties withBritain. Over time, Oman's dependence on British political andmilitary advisors increased, but it never became a British colony.In 1970, QABOOS bin Said al-Said overthrew the restrictive rule ofhis father; he has ruled as sultan ever since. His extensivemodernization program has opened the country to the outside worldwhile preserving the longstanding close ties with the UK. Oman'smoderate, independent foreign policy has sought to maintain goodrelations with all Middle Eastern countries.
Geography Oman
Location:Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and PersianGulf, between Yemen and UAE
Geographic coordinates:21 00 N, 57 00 E
Map references:Middle East
Area:total: 212,460 sq kmland: 212,460 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Kansas
Land boundaries: total: 1,374 km border countries: Saudi Arabia 676 km, UAE 410 km, Yemen 288 km
Coastline: 2,092 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:dry desert; hot, humid along coast; hot, dry interior; strongsouthwest summer monsoon (May to September) in far south
Terrain:central desert plain, rugged mountains in north and south
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Arabian Sea 0 mhighest point: Jabal Shams 2,980 m
Natural resources:petroleum, copper, asbestos, some marble, limestone, chromium,gypsum, natural gas
Land use: arable land: 0.12% permanent crops: 0.14% other: 99.74% (2005)
Irrigated land:720 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:summer winds often raise large sandstorms and dust storms ininterior; periodic droughts
Environment - current issues:rising soil salinity; beach pollution from oil spills; very limitednatural fresh water resources
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, MarineDumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whalingsigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:strategic location on Musandam Peninsula adjacent to Strait ofHormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil
People Oman
Population: 3,102,229 note: includes 577,293 non-nationals (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 42.7% (male 675,423/female 648,963)15-64 years: 54.7% (male 1,001,917/female 695,578)65 years and over: 2.6% (male 44,300/female 36,048) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 19 yearsmale: 21.7 yearsfemale: 16.5 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:3.28% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:36.24 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:3.81 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:0.35 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: 1.44 male(s)/female65 years and over: 1.23 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.25 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 18.89 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 21.65 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 16 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 73.37 yearsmale: 71.14 yearsfemale: 75.72 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:5.77 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:1,300 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 200 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Omani(s)adjective: Omani
Ethnic groups:Arab, Baluchi, South Asian (Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan,Bangladeshi), African
Religions:Ibadhi Muslim 75%, Sunni Muslim, Shi'a Muslim, Hindu
Languages:Arabic (official), English, Baluchi, Urdu, Indian dialects
Literacy: definition: NA total population: 75.8% male: 83.1% female: 67.2%
Government Oman
Country name:conventional long form: Sultanate of Omanconventional short form: Omanlocal long form: Saltanat Umanlocal short form: Umanformer: Muscat and Oman
Government type:monarchy
Capital:name: Muscatgeographic coordinates: 23 37 N, 58 35 Etime difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)
Administrative divisions:5 regions (manatiq, singular - mintaqat) and 4 governorates*(muhafazat, singular - muhafazat) Ad Dakhiliyah, Al Batinah, AlBuraymi*, Al Wusta, Ash Sharqiyah, Az Zahirah, Masqat*, Musandam*,Zufar (Dhofar)*
Independence:1650 (expulsion of the Portuguese)
National holiday:Birthday of Sultan QABOOS, 18 November (1940)
Constitution:none; note - on 6 November 1996, Sultan QABOOS issued a royaldecree promulgating a basic law considered by the government to be aconstitution which, among other things, clarifies the royalsuccession, provides for a prime minister, bars ministers fromholding interests in companies doing business with the government,establishes a bicameral legislature, and guarantees basic civilliberties for Omani citizens
Legal system:based on English common law and Islamic law; ultimate appeal to themonarch; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:in Oman's most recent Majlis al-Shura elections in 2003, suffragewas universal for all Omanis over age 21 except for members of themilitary and security forces; the next Majlis al-Shura elections arescheduled for 2007
Executive branch:chief of state: Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Said al-Said(sultan since 23 July 1970 and prime minister since 23 July 1972);note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of governmenthead of government: Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Saidal-Said (sultan since 23 July 1970 and prime minister since 23 July1972); note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head ofgovernmentcabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarchelections: none; the monarch is hereditary
Legislative branch:bicameral Majlis Oman consists of an upper chamber or Majlisal-Dawla (58 seats; members appointed by the monarch; has advisorypowers only) and a lower chamber or Majlis al-Shura (83 seats;members elected by popular vote for four-year terms; body has somelimited power to propose legislation, but otherwise has onlyadvisory powers)elections: last held 4 October 2003 (next to be held NA 2007)election results: NA
Judicial branch:Supreme Courtnote: the nascent civil court system, administered by region, hasjudges who practice secular and Shari'a law
Political parties and leaders:none
Political pressure groups and leaders:none
International organization participation:ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory),IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU,LAS, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO,WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Hunaina bint Sultan bin Ahmadal-MUGHAIRIchancery: 2535 Belmont Road, NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone: [1] (202) 387-1980 through 1981, 1988FAX: [1] (202) 745-4933
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Gary A. GRAPPOembassy: Jameat A'Duwal Al Arabiya Street, Al Khuwair area, Muscatmailing address: P. O. Box 202, P.C. 115, Madinat Sultan Qaboos,Muscattelephone: [968] 24-698989FAX: [968] 24-699771
Flag description:three horizontal bands of white, red, and green of equal width witha broad, vertical, red band on the hoist side; the national emblem(a khanjar dagger in its sheath superimposed on two crossed swordsin scabbards) in white is centered near the top of the vertical band
Economy Oman
Economy - overview:Oman is a middle-income economy in the Middle East with notable oiland gas resources, a substantial trade surplus, and low inflation.Work on a new liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility progressed in2005 and will contribute to slightly higher oil and gas exports in2006. Oman continues to liberalize its markets and joined the WorldTrade Organization (WTO) in November 2000. To reduce unemploymentand limit dependence on foreign labor, the government is encouragingthe replacement of foreign expatriate workers with local workers.Training in information technology, business management, and Englishsupport this objective. Industrial development plans focus on gasresources, metal manufacturing, petrochemicals, and internationaltransshipment ports. In 2005, Oman signed agreements with severalforeign investors to boost oil reserves, build and operate a powerplant, and develop a second mobile phone network in the country.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$40.39 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$24.98 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:5.6% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$13,500 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 2.7% industry: 39% services: 58.3% (2005 est.)
Labor force: 920,000 (2002 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Unemployment rate:15% (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):1.2% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):14.8% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:revenues: $14.36 billionexpenditures: $10.61 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA(2005 est.)
Public debt:8.1% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:dates, limes, bananas, alfalfa, vegetables; camels, cattle; fish
Industries:crude oil production and refining, natural and liquefied naturalgas (LNG) production; construction, cement, copper, steel,chemicals, optic fiber
Industrial production growth rate:4.1% (2005 est.)
Electricity - production:10.3 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:9.582 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2003)
Oil - production:769,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption:62,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:721,000 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - imports:NA bbl/day
Oil - proved reserves:6.1 billion bbl (2005 est.)
Natural gas - production:16.5 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:7.09 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - exports:7.43 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:829.1 billion cu m (2005)
Current account balance:$4.796 billion (2005 est.)
Exports:$19.01 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:petroleum, reexports, fish, metals, textiles
Exports - partners:China 21.7%, South Korea 19.5%, Japan 14.3%, Thailand 12.7%, UAE7.1%, Taiwan 4.1% (2005)
Imports:$8.709 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food,livestock, lubricants
Imports - partners:UAE 22.4%, Japan 15.7%, UK 7.7%, US 6.7%, Germany 5.8%, India 4.2%(2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$4.358 billion (2005 est.)
Debt - external:$4.361 billion (2005 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$76.4 million (1995)
Currency (code):Omani rial (OMR)
Currency code:OMR
Exchange rates:Omani rials per US dollar - 0.3845 (2005), 0.3845 (2004), 0.3845(2003), 0.3845 (2002), 0.3845 (2001)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Oman
Telephones - main lines in use:265,200 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:1.333 million (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: modern system consisting of open-wire,microwave, and radiotelephone communication stations; limitedcoaxial cabledomestic: open-wire, microwave, radiotelephone communications, and adomestic satellite system with 8 earth stationsinternational: country code - 968; satellite earth stations - 2Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat
Radio broadcast stations:AM 3, FM 9, shortwave 2 (1999)
Radios:1.4 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:13 (plus 25 low-power repeaters) (1999)
Televisions:1.6 million (1997)
Internet country code:.om
Internet hosts:3,555 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2000)
Internet users:245,000 (2005)
Transportation Oman
Airports: 137 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 6 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 131 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 52 914 to 1,523 m: 35 under 914 m: 35 (2006)
Heliports:1 (2006)
Pipelines:gas 4,072 km; oil 3,405 km (2006)
Roadways:total: 34,965 kmpaved: 9,673 km (including 550 km of expressways)unpaved: 25,292 km (2001)
Merchant marine:total: 1 ship (1000 GRT or over) 10,797 GRT/5,040 DWTby type: passenger 1registered in other countries: 2 (Kazakhstan 2) (2006)
Ports and terminals:Mina' Qabus, Salalah
Military Oman
Military branches:Royal Omani Armed Forces: Royal Army of Oman, Royal Navy of Oman,Royal Air Force of Oman (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Sultanat Oman,RAFO) (2006)
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 719,871females age 18-49: 508,621 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 581,444females age 18-49: 435,107 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 26,391females age 18-49: 25,466 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$252.99 million (2004)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:11.4% (2003)
Transnational Issues Oman
Disputes - international:boundary agreement reportedly signed and ratified with UAE in 2003for entire border, including Oman's Musandam Peninsula and Al Madhahexclave, but details have not been made public
Trafficking in persons:current situation: Oman is a destination country for men and womenprimarily from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and India who migratewillingly, but may subsequently become victims of trafficking whensubjected to conditions of involuntary servitude as domestic workersand laborers; there have been occasional reports that expatriatechildren engaged in camel racing may transit or reside in Omaniterritorytier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Oman is placed on the Tier 2 WatchList because of a lack of evidence of increasing efforts to combatsevere forms of trafficking in persons in 2005
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
======================================================================
@Pacific Ocean
Introduction Pacific Ocean
Background:The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the world's five oceans(followed by the Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, Southern Ocean, andArctic Ocean). Strategically important access waterways include theLa Perouse, Tsugaru, Tsushima, Taiwan, Singapore, and TorresStraits. The decision by the International Hydrographic Organizationin the spring of 2000 to delimit a fifth ocean, the Southern Ocean,removed the portion of the Pacific Ocean south of 60 degrees south.
Geography Pacific Ocean
Location:body of water between the Southern Ocean, Asia, Australia, and theWestern Hemisphere
Geographic coordinates:0 00 N, 160 00 W
Map references:Political Map of the World
Area:total: 155.557 million sq kmnote: includes Bali Sea, Bering Sea, Bering Strait, Coral Sea, EastChina Sea, Gulf of Alaska, Gulf of Tonkin, Philippine Sea, Sea ofJapan, Sea of Okhotsk, South China Sea, Tasman Sea, and othertributary water bodies
Area - comparative:about 15 times the size of the US; covers about 28% of the globalsurface; larger than the total land area of the world
Coastline:135,663 km
Climate:planetary air pressure systems and resultant wind patterns exhibitremarkable uniformity in the south and east; trade winds andwesterly winds are well-developed patterns, modified by seasonalfluctuations; tropical cyclones (hurricanes) may form south ofMexico from June to October and affect Mexico and Central America;continental influences cause climatic uniformity to be much lesspronounced in the eastern and western regions at the same latitudein the North Pacific Ocean; the western Pacific is monsoonal - arainy season occurs during the summer months, when moisture-ladenwinds blow from the ocean over the land, and a dry season during thewinter months, when dry winds blow from the Asian landmass back tothe ocean; tropical cyclones (typhoons) may strike southeast andeast Asia from May to December
Terrain:surface currents in the northern Pacific are dominated by aclockwise, warm-water gyre (broad circular system of currents) andin the southern Pacific by a counterclockwise, cool-water gyre; inthe northern Pacific, sea ice forms in the Bering Sea and Sea ofOkhotsk in winter; in the southern Pacific, sea ice from Antarcticareaches its northernmost extent in October; the ocean floor in theeastern Pacific is dominated by the East Pacific Rise, while thewestern Pacific is dissected by deep trenches, including the MarianaTrench, which is the world's deepest
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench -10,924 mhighest point: sea level 0 m
Natural resources:oil and gas fields, polymetallic nodules, sand and gravelaggregates, placer deposits, fish
Natural hazards:surrounded by a zone of violent volcanic and earthquake activitysometimes referred to as the "Pacific Ring of Fire"; subject totropical cyclones (typhoons) in southeast and east Asia from May toDecember (most frequent from July to October); tropical cyclones(hurricanes) may form south of Mexico and strike Central America andMexico from June to October (most common in August and September);cyclical El Nino/La Nina phenomenon occurs in the equatorialPacific, influencing weather in the Western Hemisphere and thewestern Pacific; ships subject to superstructure icing in extremenorth from October to May; persistent fog in the northern Pacificcan be a maritime hazard from June to December
Environment - current issues:endangered marine species include the dugong, sea lion, sea otter,seals, turtles, and whales; oil pollution in Philippine Sea andSouth China Sea
Geography - note:the major chokepoints are the Bering Strait, Panama Canal, LuzonStrait, and the Singapore Strait; the Equator divides the PacificOcean into the North Pacific Ocean and the South Pacific Ocean;dotted with low coral islands and rugged volcanic islands in thesouthwestern Pacific Ocean
Economy Pacific Ocean
Economy - overview:The Pacific Ocean is a major contributor to the world economy andparticularly to those nations its waters directly touch. It provideslow-cost sea transportation between East and West, extensive fishinggrounds, offshore oil and gas fields, minerals, and sand and gravelfor the construction industry. In 1996, over 60% of the world's fishcatch came from the Pacific Ocean. Exploitation of offshore oil andgas reserves is playing an ever-increasing role in the energysupplies of the US, Australia, NZ, China, and Peru. The high cost ofrecovering offshore oil and gas, combined with the wide swings inworld prices for oil since 1985, has led to fluctuations in newdrillings.
Transportation Pacific Ocean
Ports and terminals:Bangkok (Thailand), Hong Kong (China), Kao-hsiung (Taiwan), LosAngeles (US), Manila (Philippines), Pusan (South Korea), SanFrancisco (US), Seattle (US), Shanghai (China), Singapore, Sydney(Australia), Vladivostok (Russia), Wellington (NZ), Yokohama (Japan)
Transportation - note:Inside Passage offers protected waters from southeast Alaska toPuget Sound (Washington state)
Transnational Issues Pacific Ocean
Disputes - international: some maritime disputes (see littoral states)
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
======================================================================
@Pakistan
Introduction Pakistan
Background:The separation in 1947 of British India into the Muslim state ofPakistan (with two sections West and East) and largely Hindu Indiawas never satisfactorily resolved, and India and Pakistan fought twowars - in 1947-48 and 1965 - over the disputed Kashmir territory. Athird war between these countries in 1971 - in which Indiacapitalized on Islamabad's marginalization of Bengalis in Pakistanipolitics - resulted in East Pakistan becoming the separate nation ofBangladesh. In response to Indian nuclear weapons testing, Pakistanconducted its own tests in 1998. The dispute over the state ofKashmir is ongoing, but discussions and confidence-building measureshave led to decreased tensions since 2002.
Geography Pakistan
Location:Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea, between India on the eastand Iran and Afghanistan on the west and China in the north
Geographic coordinates:30 00 N, 70 00 E
Map references:Asia
Area:total: 803,940 sq kmland: 778,720 sq kmwater: 25,220 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly less than twice the size of California
Land boundaries:total: 6,774 kmborder countries: Afghanistan 2,430 km, China 523 km, India 2,912km, Iran 909 km
Coastline:1,046 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate:mostly hot, dry desert; temperate in northwest; arctic in north
Terrain:flat Indus plain in east; mountains in north and northwest;Balochistan plateau in west
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 mhighest point: K2 (Mt. Godwin-Austen) 8,611 m
Natural resources:land, extensive natural gas reserves, limited petroleum, poorquality coal, iron ore, copper, salt, limestone
Land use: arable land: 24.44% permanent crops: 0.84% other: 74.72% (2005)
Irrigated land:182,300 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:frequent earthquakes, occasionally severe especially in north andwest; flooding along the Indus after heavy rains (July and August)
Environment - current issues: water pollution from raw sewage, industrial wastes, and agricultural runoff; limited natural fresh water resources; a majority of the population does not have access to potable water; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note:controls Khyber Pass and Bolan Pass, traditional invasion routesbetween Central Asia and the Indian Subcontinent
People Pakistan
Population:165,803,560 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 39% (male 33,293,428/female 31,434,314)15-64 years: 56.9% (male 48,214,298/female 46,062,933)65 years and over: 4.1% (male 3,256,065/female 3,542,522) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 19.8 yearsmale: 19.7 yearsfemale: 20 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:2.09% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:29.74 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:8.23 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:-0.59 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.92 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 70.45 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 70.84 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 70.04 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 63.39 yearsmale: 62.4 yearsfemale: 64.44 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:4 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:74,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:4,900 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:degree of risk: highfood or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A and E,and typhoid fevervectorborne diseases: dengue fever, malaria, and cutaneousleishmaniasis are high risks depending on locationanimal contact disease: rabies (2005)
Nationality:noun: Pakistani(s)adjective: Pakistani
Ethnic groups:Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashtun (Pathan), Baloch, Muhajir (immigrants fromIndia at the time of partition and their descendants)
Religions:Muslim 97% (Sunni 77%, Shi'a 20%), Christian, Hindu, and other 3%
Languages:Punjabi 48%, Sindhi 12%, Siraiki (a Punjabi variant) 10%, Pashtu8%, Urdu (official) 8%, Balochi 3%, Hindko 2%, Brahui 1%, English(official and lingua franca of Pakistani elite and most governmentministries), Burushaski, and other 8%
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 48.7%male: 61.7%female: 35.2% (2004 est.)
Government Pakistan
Country name:conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Pakistanconventional short form: Pakistanlocal long form: Jamhuryat Islami Pakistanlocal short form: Pakistanformer: West Pakistan
Government type:federal republic
Capital:name: Islamabadgeographic coordinates: 33 42 N, 73 10 Etime difference: UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)
Administrative divisions:4 provinces, 1 territory*, and 1 capital territory**; Balochistan,Federally Administered Tribal Areas*, Islamabad Capital Territory**,North-West Frontier Province, Punjab, Sindhnote: the Pakistani-administered portion of the disputed Jammu andKashmir region consists of two administrative entities: Azad Kashmirand Northern Areas
Independence:14 August 1947 (from UK)
National holiday:Republic Day, 23 March (1956)
Constitution:12 April 1973; suspended 5 July 1977, restored with amendments 30December 1985; suspended 15 October 1999, restored in stages in2002; amended 31 December 2003
Legal system:based on English common law with provisions to accommodatePakistan's status as an Islamic state; accepts compulsory ICJjurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal; joint electorates and reservedparliamentary seats for women and non-Muslims
Executive branch:note: following a military takeover on 12 October 1999, Chief ofArmy Staff and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee,General Pervez MUSHARRAF, suspended Pakistan's constitution andassumed the additional title of Chief Executive; on 12 May 2000,Pakistan's Supreme Court unanimously validated the October 1999 coupand granted MUSHARRAF executive and legislative authority for threeyears from the coup date; on 20 June 2001, MUSHARRAF named himselfas president and was sworn in, replacing Mohammad Rafiq TARAR; in areferendum held on 30 April 2002, MUSHARRAF's presidency wasextended by five more years; on 1 January 2004, MUSHARRAF won a voteof confidence in the Senate, National Assembly, and four provincialassemblieschief of state: President General Pervez MUSHARRAF (since 20 June2001)head of government: Prime Minister Shaukat AZIZ (since 28 August2004)cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime ministerelections: the president is elected by Parliament for a five-yearterm; note - in a referendum held on 30 April 2002, MUSHARRAF'spresidency was extended by five more years (next to be held in2007); the prime minister is selected by the National Assembly (nextto be held in 2007)election results: AZIZ elected by the National Assembly on 27 August2004 with 191 of the votes
Legislative branch:bicameral Parliament or Majlis-e-Shoora consists of the Senate (100seats - formerly 87; members indirectly elected by provincialassemblies to serve six-year terms and the National Assembly (342seats - formerly 217; 60 seats represent women; 10 seats representminorities; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)elections: Senate - last held in March 2006 (next to be held inMarch 2009); National Assembly - last held 10 October 2002 (next tobe held in 2007)election results: Senate results - percent of vote by party - NA;seats by party - PML 47, PPPP 9, MMA 20, MQM/A 6, PML/N 4, PML/F 1,PkMAP 3, ANP 2, PPP 3, JWP 1, BNP-Awami 1, BNP-Mengal 1, BNP/H 1,independents 1; National Assembly results - percent of votes byparty - NA; seats by party - PML/Q 126, PPPP 81, MMA 63, PML/N 19,MQM/A 17, NA 16, PML/F 5, PML/J 3, PPP/S 2, BNP 1, JWP 1, PAT 1,PML/Z 1, PTI 1, MQM/H 1, PkMAP 1, independents 3
Judicial branch:Supreme Court (justices appointed by the president); FederalIslamic or Shari'a Court
Political parties and leaders:Awami National Party or ANP [Asfandyar Wali KHAN]; BalochistanNational Party/Hayee Group or BNP/H [Dr. Hayee BALUCH]; BaluchNational Party/Awami or BNP/Awami [Moheem Khan BALOCH]; BaluchNational Party-Mengal or BNP/M [Sardar Ataullah MENGAL]; JamhooriWatan Party or JWP; Jamiat-al-Hadith or JAH [Sajid MIR];Jamiat-i-Islami or JI [Qazi Hussain AHMED]; Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam,Fazlur Rehman faction or JUI/F [Fazlur REHMAN]; JamiatUlema-i-Islam, Sami ul-HAQ faction or JUI/S [Sami ul-HAQ]; JamiatUlema-i-Pakistan or JUP [Shah Faridul HAQ]; Muttahida Majlis-e-AmalPakistan or MMA [Qazi Hussain AHMED]; Muttahida Qaumi Movement,Altaf faction or MQM/A [Altaf HUSSAIN]; Muttahida Quami Movement,Haqiqi faction or MQM/H [Afaq AHMAD]; National Alliance or NA[Ghulam Mustapha JATOI]; Pakhtun Khwa Milli Awami Party or PkMAP[Mahmood Khan ACHAKZAI]; Pakhtun Quami Party or PQP [Mohammed AfzalKHAN]; Pakistan Awami Tehrik or PAT [Tahir ul QADRI]; PakistanMuslim League, Functional Group or PML/F [Pir PAGARO]; PakistanMuslim League, Nawaz Sharif faction or PML/N [Nawaz SHARIF];Pakistan Muslim League or PML [Chaudhry Shujaat HUSSAIN]; note - asof May 2004, the PML/Q changed its name to PML and absorbed thePML/J, PML/Z, and NA; Pakistan National Party or PNP [HasilBIZENJO]; Pakistan People's Party or PPP [Aftab Ahmed Khan SHERPAO];Pakistan People's Party Parliamentarians or PPPP [Benazir BHUTTO];Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf or PTI [Imran KHAN]; Tehrik-i-Islami[Allama Sajid NAQVI]note: political alliances in Pakistan can shift frequently
Political pressure groups and leaders:military remains most important political force; ulema (clergy),landowners, industrialists, and small merchants also influential
International organization participation:ARF, AsDB, C (reinstated 2004), CP, ECO, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA,IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MINURSO,MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, ONUB, OPCW, PCA, SAARC,SACEP, SCO (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR,UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Mahmud Ali DURRANI chancery: 3517 International Court, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 243-6500 FAX: [1] (202) 686-1544 consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Sunnyvale (California)
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ryan CROCKER embassy: Diplomatic Enclave, Ramna 5, Islamabad mailing address: P. O. Box 1048, Unit 62200, APO AE 09812-2200 telephone: [92] (51) 208-0000 FAX: [92] (51) 2276427 consulate(s) general: Karachi consulate(s): Lahore, Peshawar
Flag description:green with a vertical white band (symbolizing the role of religiousminorities) on the hoist side; a large white crescent and star arecentered in the green field; the crescent, star, and color green aretraditional symbols of Islam
Economy Pakistan
Economy - overview:Pakistan, an impoverished and underdeveloped country, has sufferedfrom decades of internal political disputes, low levels of foreigninvestment, and a costly, ongoing confrontation with neighboringIndia. However, IMF-approved government policies, bolstered bygenerous foreign assistance and renewed access to global marketssince 2001, have generated solid macroeconomic recovery the lastfour years. The government has made substantial macroeconomicreforms since 2000, although progress on more politically sensitivereforms has slowed. For example, in the budget for fiscal year 2006,Islamabad did not impose taxes on the agriculture or real estatesectors, despite Pakistan's chronically low tax-to-GDP ratio. Whilelong-term prospects remain uncertain, given Pakistan's low level ofdevelopment, medium-term prospects for job creation and povertyreduction are the best in more than a decade. Islamabad has raiseddevelopment spending from about 2% of GDP in the 1990s to 4% in2003, a necessary step towards reversing the broad underdevelopmentof its social sector. GDP growth, spurred by double-digit gains inindustrial production over the past year, has become less dependenton agriculture, and remained above 7% in 2004 and 2005. Inflationremains the biggest threat to the economy, jumping to more than 9%in 2005. The World Bank and Asian Development Bank announced thatthey would provide US $1 billion each in aid to help Pakistanrebuild areas hit by the October 2005 earthquake in Kashmir. Foreignexchange reserves continued to reach new levels in 2005, supportedby steady worker remittances. In the near term, growth probablycannot be sustained at the 7% level; however, massive internationalaid, increased government spending, lower taxes, and pay increasesfor government workers will help Pakistan maintain strong GDP growthover the longer term.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$395.2 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$89.55 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:6.6% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$2,400 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 21.6%industry: 25.1%services: 53.3% (2005 est.)
Labor force:46.84 millionnote: extensive export of labor, mostly to the Middle East, and useof child labor (2005 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture: 42%industry: 20%services: 38% (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate:6.6% plus substantial underemployment (2005 est.)
Population below poverty line:32% (FY00/01 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 4.1% highest 10%: 27.6% (FY96/97)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:41 (FY98/99)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):9.1% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):15.3% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:revenues: $15.45 billionexpenditures: $20.07 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA(2005 est.)
Public debt:53.8% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:cotton, wheat, rice, sugarcane, fruits, vegetables; milk, beef,mutton, eggs
Industries:textiles and apparel, food processing, pharmaceuticals,construction materials, paper products, fertilizer, shrimp
Industrial production growth rate:10.7% (2005 est.)
Electricity - production:76.92 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 68.8% hydro: 28.2% nuclear: 3% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:71.54 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2003)
Oil - production:63,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption:365,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports:NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:NA bbl/day
Oil - proved reserves:341.8 million bbl (2005 est.)
Natural gas - production:23.8 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:23.8 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:759.7 billion cu m (2005)
Current account balance:$-1.109 billion (2005 est.)
Exports:$14.85 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:textiles (garments, bed linen, cotton cloth, yarn), rice, leathergoods, sports goods, chemicals, manufactures, carpets and rugs
Exports - partners:US 22.5%, UAE 8.9%, UK 5.8%, China 5.4%, Germany 4.6% (2005)
Imports:$21.26 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:petroleum, petroleum products, machinery, plastics, transportationequipment, edible oils, paper and paperboard, iron and steel, tea
Imports - partners:China 13.8%, Saudi Arabia 10.3%, UAE 8.8%, Japan 6.1%, US 5%,Kuwait 5%, Germany 4.8% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$10.95 billion (2005 est.)
Debt - external:$38.8 billion (2005 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$2.4 billion (FY01/02)
Currency (code):Pakistani rupee (PKR)
Currency code:PKR
Exchange rates:Pakistani rupees per US dollar - 59.515 (2005), 58.258 (2004),57.752 (2003), 59.724 (2002), 61.927 (2001)
Fiscal year:1 July - 30 June
Communications Pakistan
Telephones - main lines in use:5,277,500 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:12.771 million (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: the domestic system is mediocre, but improving;service is adequate for government and business use, in part becausemajor businesses have established their own private systems; since1988, the government has promoted investment in the nationaltelecommunications system on a priority basis, significantlyincreasing network capacity; despite major improvements in trunk andurban systems, telecommunication services are still not readilyavailable to the majority of the rural populationdomestic: microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, fiber-optic cable,cellular, and satellite networksinternational: country code - 92; satellite earth stations - 3Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean); 3 operationalinternational gateway exchanges (1 at Karachi and 2 at Islamabad);microwave radio relay to neighboring countries (1999)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 27, FM 1, shortwave 21 (1998)
Radios:13.5 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:22 (plus seven low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:3.1 million (1997)
Internet country code:.pk
Internet hosts:72,765 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):30 (2000)
Internet users:10.5 million (2005)
Transportation Pakistan
Airports: 139 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 91 over 3,047 m: 14 2,438 to 3,047 m: 21 1,524 to 2,437 m: 33 914 to 1,523 m: 15 under 914 m: 8 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 48 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 914 to 1,523 m: 12 under 914 m: 23 (2006)
Heliports:18 (2006)
Pipelines:gas 10,257 km; oil 2,001 km (2006)
Railways:total: 8,163 kmbroad gauge: 7,718 km 1.676-m gauge (293 km electrified)narrow gauge: 445 km 1.000-m gauge (2004)
Roadways:total: 255,856 kmpaved: 157,975 km (including 367 km of expressways)unpaved: 97,881 km (2004)
Merchant marine:total: 16 ships (1000 GRT or over) 397,740 GRT/657,656 DWTby type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 10, container 1, petroleum tanker 4registered in other countries: 11 (Comoros 2, North Korea 3, Malta1, Nigeria 1, Panama 3, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1) (2006)
Ports and terminals:Karachi, Port Muhammad Bin Qasim
Military Pakistan
Military branches:Army (includes National Guard), Navy (includes Marines), PakistanAir Force (Pakistan Fiza'ya) (2006)
Military service age and obligation: 16 years of age for voluntary military service; soldiers cannot be deployed for combat until age of 18; the Pakistani Air Force has inducted its first female combat pilot (2006)
Manpower available for military service:males age 16-49: 39,028,014females age 16-49: 36,779,584 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 16-49: 29,428,747females age 16-49: 28,391,887 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 1,969,055females age 16-49: 1,849,254 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$4.26 billion (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:3.9% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Pakistan
Disputes - international:various talks and confidence-building measures cautiously havebegun to defuse tensions over Kashmir, particularly since theOctober 2005 earthquake in the region; Kashmir nevertheless remainsthe site of the world's largest and most militarized territorialdispute with portions under the de facto administration of China(Aksai Chin), India (Jammu and Kashmir), and Pakistan (Azad Kashmirand Northern Areas); UN Military Observer Group in India andPakistan (UNMOGIP) has maintained a small group of peacekeeperssince 1949; India does not recognize Pakistan's ceding historicKashmir lands to China in 1964; in 2004, India and Pakistaninstituted a cease-fire in the Kashmir, and in 2005 restored busservice across the highly militarized Line of Control; Pakistan hastaken its dispute on the impact of India's building the Baglihar Damon the Chenab River in Jammu and Kashmir to the World Bank forarbitration and in general the two states still dispute Indus Riverwater sharing; to defuse tensions and prepare discussions on amaritime boundary, in 2004, India and Pakistan resurveyed a portionof the disputed the Sir Creek estuary at the mouth of the Rann ofKutch; Pakistani maps continue to show the Junagadh claim in India'sGujarat State; by 2005, Pakistan, with UN assistance, hadrepatriated 2.3 million Afghan refugees and had undertaken a censusto count the remaining million or more, many of whom remain at theirown choosing; Pakistan has sent troops into remote tribal areas tocontrol the border with Afghanistan and stem organized terrorist orother illegal cross-border activities; regular meetings with Afghanand Coalition allies aim to resolve periodic claims of boundaryencroachments
Refugees and internally displaced persons:refugees (country of origin): 960,041 (Afghanistan)IDPs: undetermined (government strikes on Islamic militants in SouthWaziristan); 3 million (October 2005 earthquake) (2005)
Illicit drugs:opium poppy cultivation declined 58% to 3,147 hectares in 2005;federal and provincial authorities continue to conduct anti-poppycampaigns that force eradication - fines and arrests will take placeif the ban on poppy cultivation is not observed; key transit pointfor Afghan drugs, including heroin, opium, morphine, and hashish,bound for Western markets, the Gulf States, and Africa; financialcrimes related to drug trafficking, terrorism, corruption, andsmuggling remain problems
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
======================================================================
@Palau
Introduction Palau
Background:After three decades as part of the UN Trust Territory of thePacific under US administration, this westernmost cluster of theCaroline Islands opted for independence in 1978 rather than join theFederated States of Micronesia. A Compact of Free Association withthe US was approved in 1986, but not ratified until 1993. It enteredinto force the following year, when the islands gained independence.
Geography Palau
Location:Oceania, group of islands in the North Pacific Ocean, southeast ofthe Philippines
Geographic coordinates:7 30 N, 134 30 E
Map references:Oceania
Area:total: 458 sq kmland: 458 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:1,519 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 3 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical; hot and humid; wet season May to November
Terrain:varying geologically from the high, mountainous main island ofBabelthuap to low, coral islands usually fringed by large barrierreefs
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 mhighest point: Mount Ngerchelchuus 242 m