Flag description:two vertical bands of green (hoist side, two-fifths) and red(three-fifths) with the Portuguese coat of arms centered on thedividing line
Economy Portugal
Economy - overview:Portugal has become a diversified and increasingly service-basedeconomy since joining the European Community in 1986. Over the pastdecade, successive governments have privatized many state-controlledfirms and liberalized key areas of the economy, including thefinancial and telecommunications sectors. The country qualified forthe European Monetary Union (EMU) in 1998 and began circulating theeuro on 1 January 2002 along with 11 other EU member economies.Economic growth had been above the EU average for much of the pastdecade, but fell back in 2001-05. GDP per capita stands attwo-thirds that of the Big Four EU economies. A poor educationalsystem, in particular, has been an obstacle to greater productivityand growth. Portugal has been increasingly overshadowed bylower-cost producers in Central Europe and Asia as a target forforeign direct investment. The government faces tough choices in itsattempts to boost Portugal's economic competitiveness while keepingthe budget deficit within the eurozone's 3%-of-GDP ceiling.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$200.6 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$170.3 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:0.4% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$19,000 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 5.3% industry: 27.4% services: 67.3% (2005 est.)
Labor force: 5.52 million (2005 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 10% industry: 30% services: 60% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:7.6% (2005 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.1% highest 10%: 28.4% (1995 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:38.5 (1997)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):2.3% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):21.6% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:revenues: $78.84 billionexpenditures: $90.27 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA(2005 est.)
Public debt:63.9% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:grain, potatoes, tomatoes, olives, grapes; sheep, cattle, goats,swine, poultry, dairy products; fish
Industries:textiles and footwear; wood pulp, paper, and cork; metals andmetalworking; oil refining; chemicals; fish canning; rubber andplastic products; ceramics; electronics and communicationsequipment; rail transportation equipment; aerospace equipment; shipconstruction and refurbishment; wine; tourism
Industrial production growth rate:0% (2005 est.)
Electricity - production:44.32 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 64.5% hydro: 31.3% nuclear: 0% other: 4.1% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:44.01 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:3.1 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:5.9 billion kWh (2003)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - consumption:326,500 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:28,830 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:357,300 bbl/day (2001)
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:2.983 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:2.553 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Current account balance:$-17.1 billion (2005 est.)
Exports:$38.8 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:clothing and footwear, machinery, chemicals, cork and paperproducts, hides
Exports - partners:Spain 25.9%, France 13.1%, Germany 11.9%, UK 8%, US 5.4%, Italy4.3% (2005)
Imports:$60.35 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, petroleum, textiles,agricultural products
Imports - partners:Spain 29%, Germany 13.4%, France 8.5%, Italy 5.2%, Netherlands4.3%, UK 4.2% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$10.36 billion (2005 est.)
Debt - external:$287.8 billion (2005 est.)
Economic aid - donor:ODA, $271 million (1995)
Currency (code):euro (EUR)note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced theeuro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions ofmember countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the solecurrency for everyday transactions within the member countries
Currency code:EUR
Exchange rates:euros per US dollar - 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003),1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Portugal
Telephones - main lines in use:4.234 million (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:11.448 million (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: Portugal's telephone system has achieved astate-of-the-art network with broadband, high-speed capabilitiesdomestic: integrated network of coaxial cables, open-wire, microwaveradio relay, and domestic satellite earth stationsinternational: country code - 351; 6 submarine cables; satelliteearth stations - 3 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean),NA Eutelsat; tropospheric scatter to Azores; note - an earth stationfor Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean region) is planned
Radio broadcast stations:AM 47, FM 172 (many are repeaters), shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios:3.02 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 62 (plus 166 repeaters) note: includes Azores and Madeira Islands (1995)
Televisions:3.31 million (1997)
Internet country code:.pt
Internet hosts:845,980 (2005)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):16 (2000)
Internet users:7,782,700 (2006)
Transportation Portugal
Airports: 66 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 43 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 13 under 914 m: 11 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 23 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 22 (2006)
Pipelines:gas 1,099 km; oil 8 km; refined products 174 km (2006)
Railways:total: 2,850 kmbroad gauge: 2,576 km 1.668-m gauge (623 km electrified)narrow gauge: 274 km 1.000-m gauge (2005)
Roadways:total: 72,600 kmpaved: 62,436 km (including 1,700 km of expressways)unpaved: 10,164 km (2002)
Waterways:210 km (on Douro River from Porto) (2003)
Merchant marine:total: 111 ships (1000 GRT or over) 1,077,300 GRT/1,363,435 DWTby type: bulk carrier 11, cargo 27, chemical tanker 15, container 7,liquefied gas 11, passenger 9, passenger/cargo 10, petroleum tanker8, roll on/roll off 4, vehicle carrier 9foreign-owned: 82 (Australia 1, Belgium 8, Cyprus 1, Denmark 4,Germany 17, Greece 4, Italy 12, Japan 9, Malta 1, Mexico 1,Netherlands 1, Norway 4, Spain 15, Switzerland 3, US 1)registered in other countries: 16 (Cyprus 2, Hong Kong 1, Malta 3,Panama 10) (2006)
Ports and terminals:Leixoes, Lisbon, Setubal, Sines
Military Portugal
Military branches:Army, Navy (Marinha Portuguesa; includes Marine Corps), Air Force(Forca Aerea Portuguesa, FAP), National Republican Guard (GuardaNacional Republicana) (2005)
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service; compulsory military service was ended in 2004; women serve in the armed forces, on naval ships since 1993, but are prohibited from serving in some combatant specialties (2005)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 2,435,042females age 18-49: 2,405,816 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 1,952,819females age 18-49: 1,977,264 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 67,189females age 18-49: 60,626 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$3,497.8 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:2.3% (2003)
Transnational Issues Portugal
Disputes - international:Portugal does not recognize Spanish sovereignty over the territoryof Olivenza based on a difference of interpretation of the 1815Congress of Vienna and the 1801 Treaty of Badajoz
Illicit drugs:gateway country for Latin American cocaine and Southwest Asianheroin entering the European market (especially from Brazil);transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to Europe;consumer of Southwest Asian heroin
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
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@Puerto Rico
Introduction Puerto Rico
Background:Populated for centuries by aboriginal peoples, the island wasclaimed by the Spanish Crown in 1493 following COLUMBUS' secondvoyage to the Americas. In 1898, after 400 years of colonial rulethat saw the indigenous population nearly exterminated and Africanslave labor introduced, Puerto Rico was ceded to the US as a resultof the Spanish-American War. Puerto Ricans were granted UScitizenship in 1917. Popularly-elected governors have served since1948. In 1952, a constitution was enacted providing for internalself government. In plebiscites held in 1967, 1993, and 1998, voterschose not to alter the existing political status.
Geography Puerto Rico
Location:Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North AtlanticOcean, east of the Dominican Republic
Geographic coordinates:18 15 N, 66 30 W
Map references:Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total: 13,790 sq kmland: 8,870 sq kmwater: 4,921 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly less than three times the size of Rhode Island
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:501 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical marine, mild; little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain:mostly mountains with coastal plain belt in north; mountainsprecipitous to sea on west coast; sandy beaches along most coastalareas
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Cerro de Punta 1,339 m
Natural resources: some copper and nickel; potential for onshore and offshore oil
Land use: arable land: 3.69% permanent crops: 5.59% other: 90.72% (2005)
Irrigated land:400 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:periodic droughts; hurricanes
Environment - current issues:erosion; occasional drought causing water shortages
Geography - note:important location along the Mona Passage - a key shipping lane tothe Panama Canal; San Juan is one of the biggest and best naturalharbors in the Caribbean; many small rivers and high centralmountains ensure land is well watered; south coast relatively dry;fertile coastal plain belt in north
People Puerto Rico
Population:3,927,188 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 21.3% (male 428,610/female 409,484)15-64 years: 65.8% (male 1,239,255/female 1,345,519)65 years and over: 12.8% (male 218,045/female 286,275) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 34.7 yearsmale: 33 yearsfemale: 36.4 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:0.4% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:12.77 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:7.65 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:-1.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 9.14 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 10.32 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 7.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 78.4 yearsmale: 74.46 yearsfemale: 82.54 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.75 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:7,397 (1997)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality:noun: Puerto Rican(s) (US citizens)adjective: Puerto Rican
Ethnic groups:white (mostly Spanish origin) 80.5%, black 8%, Amerindian 0.4%,Asian 0.2%, mixed and other 10.9%
Religions:Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant and other 15%
Languages:Spanish, English
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 94.1%male: 93.9%female: 94.4% (2002 est.)
Government Puerto Rico
Country name:conventional long form: Commonwealth of Puerto Ricoconventional short form: Puerto Rico
Dependency status:unincorporated, organized territory of the US with commonwealthstatus; policy relations between Puerto Rico and the US conductedunder the jurisdiction of the Office of the President
Government type:commonwealth
Capital:name: San Juangeographic coordinates: 18 28 N, 66 07 Wtime difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)
Administrative divisions:none (territory of the US with commonwealth status); there are nofirst-order administrative divisions as defined by the USGovernment, but there are 78 municipalities (municipios, singular -municipio) at the second order; Adjuntas, Aguada, Aguadilla, AguasBuenas, Aibonito, Anasco, Arecibo, Arroyo, Barceloneta,Barranquitas, Bayamon, Cabo Rojo, Caguas, Camuy, Canovanas,Carolina, Catano, Cayey, Ceiba, Ciales, Cidra, Coamo, Comerio,Corozal, Culebra, Dorado, Fajardo, Florida, Guanica, Guayama,Guayanilla, Guaynabo, Gurabo, Hatillo, Hormigueros, Humacao,Isabela, Jayuya, Juana Diaz, Juncos, Lajas, Lares, Las Marias, LasPiedras, Loiza, Luquillo, Manati, Maricao, Maunabo, Mayaguez, Moca,Morovis, Naguabo, Naranjito, Orocovis, Patillas, Penuelas, Ponce,Quebradillas, Rincon, Rio Grande, Sabana Grande, Salinas, SanGerman, San Juan, San Lorenzo, San Sebastian, Santa Isabel, ToaAlta, Toa Baja, Trujillo Alto, Utuado, Vega Alta, Vega Baja,Vieques, Villalba, Yabucoa, Yauco
Independence:none (territory of the US with commonwealth status)
National holiday:US Independence Day, 4 July (1776); Puerto Rico Constitution Day,25 July (1952)
Constitution:ratified 3 March 1952, approved by US Congress 3 July 1952,effective 25 July 1952
Legal system:based on Spanish civil code and within the US Federal system ofjustice
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal; island residents are US citizens but donot vote in US presidential elections
Executive branch:chief of state: President George W. BUSH of the US (since 20January 2001); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January2001)head of government: Governor Anibal ACEVEDO-VILA (since 2 January2005)cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor with the consent of thelegislatureelections: under the US Consitution, residents of unincorporatedterritories, such as Puerto Rico, do not vote in elections for USpresident and vice president; governor elected by popular vote for afour-year term (no term limits); election last held 2 November 2004(next to be held November 2008)election results: Anibal ACEVEDO-VILA (PPD) elected governor;percent of vote - 48.4%
Legislative branch:bicameral Legislative Assembly consists of the Senate (at least 27seats - currently 29; members are directly elected by popular voteto serve four-year terms) and the House of Representatives (51seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to servefour-year terms)elections: Senate - last held 2 November 2004 (next to be heldNovember 2008); House of Representatives - last held 2 November 2004(next to be held November 2008)election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - PNP 43.4%, PPD40.3%, PIP 9.4%; seats by party - PNP 17, PPD 9, PIP 1; House ofRepresentatives - percent of vote by party - PNP 46.3%, PPD 43.1%,PIP 9.7%; seats by party - PNP 32, PPD 18, PIP 1note: Puerto Rico elects, by popular vote, a resident commissionerto serve a four-year term as a nonvoting representative in the USHouse of Representatives; aside from not voting on the House floor,he enjoys all the rights of a member of Congress; elections lastheld 2 November 2004 (next to be held November 2008); Luis FORTUNOelected resident commissioner; results - percent of vote by party -PNP 48.6%; seats by party - PNP 1
Judicial branch:Supreme Court; Appellate Court; Court of First Instance composed oftwo sections: a Superior Court and a Municipal Court (justices forall these courts appointed by the governor with the consent of theSenate)
Political parties and leaders:National Democratic Party [Roberto PRATS]; National RepublicanParty of Puerto Rico [Dr. Tiody FERRE]; New Progressive Party or PNP(pro-US statehood) [Pedro ROSSELLO]; Popular Democratic Party or PPD(pro-commonwealth) [Anibal ACEVEDO-VILA]; Puerto Rican IndependenceParty or PIP (pro-independence) [Ruben BERRIOS Martinez]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Boricua Popular Army or EPB (a revolutionary group also known asLos Macheteros); note - the following radical groups are considereddormant by Federal law enforcement: Armed Forces for NationalLiberation or FALN, Armed Forces of Popular Resistance, Volunteersof the Puerto Rican Revolution
International organization participation:Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WToO (associate)
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (territory of the US with commonwealth status)
Diplomatic representation from the US:none (territory of the US with commonwealth status)
Flag description:five equal horizontal bands of red (top and bottom) alternatingwith white; a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side bearsa large, white, five-pointed star in the center; design initiallyinfluenced by the US flag, but similar to the Cuban flag, with thecolors of the bands and triangle reversed
Economy Puerto Rico
Economy - overview:Puerto Rico has one of the most dynamic economies in the Caribbeanregion. A diverse industrial sector has far surpassed agriculture asthe primary locus of economic activity and income. Encouraged byduty-free access to the US and by tax incentives, US firms haveinvested heavily in Puerto Rico since the 1950s. US minimum wagelaws apply. Sugar production has lost out to dairy production andother livestock products as the main source of income in theagricultural sector. Tourism has traditionally been an importantsource of income, with estimated arrivals of nearly 5 milliontourists in 2004. Growth fell off in 2001-03, largely due to theslowdown in the US economy, and has recovered in 2004-2005.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$73.27 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):NA
GDP - real growth rate:2.5% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$18,700 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 1% industry: 45% services: 54% (2002 est.)
Labor force: 1.3 million (2000)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 3% industry: 20% services: 77% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:12% (2002)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):6.5% (2003 est.)
Budget:revenues: $6.7 billionexpenditures: $9.6 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA(FY99/00)
Agriculture - products: sugarcane, coffee, pineapples, plantains, bananas; livestock products, chickens
Industries:pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, food products, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:NA%
Electricity - production:23.03 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 99.2% hydro: 0.8% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:21.42 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2003)
Oil - production:436.1 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - consumption:218,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:NA bbl/day
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:740 million cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:630 million cu m (2001 est.)
Exports:$46.9 billion f.o.b. (2001)
Exports - commodities:chemicals, electronics, apparel, canned tuna, rum, beverageconcentrates, medical equipment
Exports - partners:US 90.3%, UK 1.6%, Netherlands 1.4%, Dominican Republic 1.4% (2004)
Imports:$29.1 billion c.i.f. (2001)
Imports - commodities:chemicals, machinery and equipment, clothing, food, fish, petroleumproducts
Imports - partners:US 55.0%, Ireland 23.7%, Japan 5.4% (2004)
Debt - external:$NA
Economic aid - recipient:$NA
Currency (code):US dollar (USD)
Currency code:USD
Exchange rates:the US dollar is used
Fiscal year:1 July - 30 June
Communications Puerto Rico
Telephones - main lines in use:1,111,900 (2004)
Telephones - mobile cellular:2.682 million (2004)
Telephone system:general assessment: modern system integrated with that of the US byhigh-capacity submarine cable and Intelsat with high-speed datacapabilitydomestic: digital telephone system; cellular telephone serviceinternational: country code - 1-787, 939; satellite earth station -1 Intelsat; submarine cable to US
Radio broadcast stations:AM 74, FM 53, shortwave 0 (2006)
Radios:2.7 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:32 (2006)
Televisions:1.021 million (1997)
Internet country code:.pr
Internet hosts:404 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):76 (2000)
Internet users:1 million (2005)
Transportation Puerto Rico
Airports: 30 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 17 over 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 5 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 13 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 10 (2006)
Railways: total: 96 km narrow gauge: 96 km 1.000-m gauge (2005)
Roadways:total: 25,645 kmpaved: 24,363 km (including 426 km of expressways)unpaved: 1,282 km (2004)
Merchant marine:total: 3 ships (1000 GRT or over) 77,177 GRT/50,138 DWTby type: roll on/roll off 3foreign-owned: 3 (US 3)registered in other countries: 1 (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines1) (2006)
Ports and terminals:Las Mareas, Mayaguez, San Juan
Military Puerto Rico
Military branches:no regular indigenous military forces; paramilitary National Guard,Police Force
Military - note:defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues Puerto Rico
Disputes - international: increasing numbers of illegal migrants from the Dominican Republic cross the Mona Passage to Puerto Rico each year looking for work
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
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@Qatar
Introduction Qatar
Background:Ruled by the al-Thani family since the mid-1800s, Qatar transformeditself from a poor British protectorate noted mainly for pearlinginto an independent state with significant oil and natural gasrevenues. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Qatari economywas crippled by a continuous siphoning off of petroleum revenues bythe amir, who had ruled the country since 1972. His son, the currentAmir HAMAD bin Khalifa al-Thani, overthrew him in a bloodless coupin 1995. In 2001, Qatar resolved its longstanding border disputeswith both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. Oil and natural gas revenuesenable Qatar to have one of the highest per capita incomes in theworld.
Geography Qatar
Location:Middle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia
Geographic coordinates:25 30 N, 51 15 E
Map references:Middle East
Area:total: 11,437 sq kmland: 11,437 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Connecticut
Land boundaries: total: 60 km border countries: Saudi Arabia 60 km
Coastline:563 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmcontiguous zone: 24 nmexclusive economic zone: as determined by bilateral agreements orthe median line
Climate:arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers
Terrain:mostly flat and barren desert covered with loose sand and gravel
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m highest point: Qurayn Abu al Bawl 103 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, fish
Land use: arable land: 1.64% permanent crops: 0.27% other: 98.09% (2005)
Irrigated land:130 sq km (2002)
Natural hazards:haze, dust storms, sandstorms common
Environment - current issues: limited natural fresh water resources are increasing dependence on large-scale desalination facilities
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:strategic location in central Persian Gulf near major petroleumdeposits
People Qatar
Population:885,359 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 23.4% (male 105,546/female 101,371)15-64 years: 73% (male 446,779/female 199,133)65 years and over: 3.7% (male 24,059/female 8,471) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 31.7 yearsmale: 37.1 yearsfemale: 22.7 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:2.5% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:15.56 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:4.72 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:14.12 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: 2.24 male(s)/female65 years and over: 2.84 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.87 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 18.04 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 21.27 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 14.63 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 73.9 yearsmale: 71.37 yearsfemale: 76.57 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.81 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.09% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality:noun: Qatari(s)adjective: Qatari
Ethnic groups:Arab 40%, Indian 18%, Pakistani 18%, Iranian 10%, other 14%
Religions:Muslim 95%
Languages:Arabic (official), English commonly used as a second language
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 89%male: 89.1%female: 88.6% (2004 est.)
Government Qatar
Country name:conventional long form: State of Qatarconventional short form: Qatarlocal long form: Dawlat Qatarlocal short form: Qatarnote: closest approximation of the native pronunciation fallsbetween cutter and gutter, but not like guitar
Government type:traditional emirate
Capital:name: Dohageographic coordinates: 25 17 N, 51 32 Etime difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)
Administrative divisions:10 municipalities (baladiyat, singular - baladiyah); Ad Dawhah, AlGhuwayriyah, Al Jumayliyah, Al Khawr, Al Wakrah, Ar Rayyan, Jarayanal Batinah, Madinat ash Shamal, Umm Sa'id, Umm Salal
Independence:3 September 1971 (from UK)
National holiday:Independence Day, 3 September (1971)
Constitution:ratified by public referendum on 29 April 2003, endorsed by theamir on 8 June 2004, effective on 9 June 2005
Legal system:discretionary system of law controlled by the amir, although civilcodes are being implemented; Shari'a law dominates family andpersonal matters
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Amir HAMAD bin Khalifa al-Thani (since 27 June 1995when, as crown prince, he ousted his father, Amir KHALIFA bin Hamadal-Thani, in a bloodless coup); Crown Prince TAMIM bin Hamad binKhalifa al-Thani, fourth son of the monarch (selected Heir Apparentby the monarch on 5 August 2003); note - Amir HAMAD also holds thepositions of Minister of Defense and Commander-in-chief of the ArmedForceshead of government: Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Khalifa al-Thani,brother of the monarch (since 30 October 1996); Deputy PrimeMinister MUHAMMAD bin Khalifa al-Thani, brother of the monarch(since 20 January 1998); First Deputy Prime Minister HAMAD bin Jasimbin Jabir al-Thani (since 16 September 2003, also Foreign Ministersince 1992); Second Deputy Prime Minister Abdallah bin Hamadal-ATIYAH (since 16 September 2003, also Electricity and WaterMinister since 1999 and Energy and Industry Minister since 1992)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarchelections: none; the monarch is hereditarynote: in April 2003, Qatar held nationwide elections for a 29-memberCentral Municipal Council (CMC), which has consultative powers aimedat improving the provision of municipal services; the first electionfor the CMC was held in March 1999
Legislative branch:unicameral Advisory Council or Majlis al-Shura (35 seats; membersappointed)note: no legislative elections have been held since 1970 when therewere partial elections to the body; Council members have had theirterms extended every four years since; the new constitution, whichcame into force on 9 June 2005, provides for a 45-memberConsultative Council, or Majlis al-Shura; the public would electtwo-thirds of the Majlis al-Shura; the amir would appoint theremaining members; preparations are underway to conduct elections tothe Majlis al-Shura in early 2007
Judicial branch:Court of Appealnote: under a judiciary law issued in 2003, the former two courtsystems, civil and Islamic law, were merged under a higher court,the Court of Cassation, established for appeals
Political parties and leaders:none
Political pressure groups and leaders:none
International organization participation:ABEDA, ACC, AFESD, AMF, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,ICRM, IDB, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITU,LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNSecurity Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO,WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Nasir bin Hamad bin Mubarak al-KHALIFAchancery: 2555 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20037telephone: [1] (202) 274-1600 and 274-1603FAX: [1] (202) 237-0061consulate(s) general: Houston
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Chase UNTERMEYERembassy: Al-Luqta District, 22 February Road, Dohamailing address: P. O. Box 2399, Dohatelephone: [974] 488 4101FAX: [974] 488 4176
Flag description:maroon with a broad white serrated band (nine white points) on thehoist side
Economy Qatar
Economy - overview:Oil and gas account for more than 60% of GDP, roughly 85% of exportearnings, and 70% of government revenues. Oil and gas have givenQatar a per capita GDP about 80% of that of the leading WestEuropean industrial countries. Proved oil reserves of 16 billionbarrels should ensure continued output at current levels for 23years. Qatar's proved reserves of natural gas exceed 25 trillioncubic meters, more than 5% of the world total and third largest inthe world. Qatar has permitted substantial foreign investment in thedevelopment of its gas fields during the last decade and is expectedto become the world's top liquefied natural gas (LNG) exporter by2007. In recent years, Qatar has consistently posted trade surpluseslargely because of high oil prices and increased natural gasexports, becoming one of the world's fastest growing and highestper-capita income countries.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$24.46 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$28.07 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:8.8% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$28,300 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 0.2% industry: 80.1% services: 19.7% (2005 est.)
Labor force:440,000 (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate:2.7% (2001)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):8.8% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):21.9% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:revenues: $17.31 billionexpenditures: $11.31 billion; including capital expenditures of $2.2billion (2005 est.)
Public debt:35.6% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:fruits, vegetables; poultry, dairy products, beef; fish
Industries:crude oil production and refining, ammonia, fertilizers,petrochemicals, steel reinforcing bars, cement, commercial shiprepair
Industrial production growth rate:10% (2003 est.)
Electricity - production:9.735 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:9.053 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2003)
Oil - production:790,500 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption:33,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:NA bbl/day
Oil - proved reserves:16 billion bbl (2005 est.)
Natural gas - production:30.8 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:11.61 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - exports:18.2 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:25.77 trillion cu m (2005)
Current account balance:$9.27 billion (2005 est.)
Exports:$24.9 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:liquefied natural gas (LNG), petroleum products, fertilizers, steel
Exports - partners:Japan 37.1%, South Korea 19.5%, Singapore 8.3% (2005)
Imports:$6.706 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and transport equipment, food, chemicals
Imports - partners:France 11.5%, Japan 10.5%, US 10.4%, Germany 8.4%, Saudi Arabia7.3%, UK 7%, Italy 6.5%, South Korea 5.5%, UAE 4.8% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$4.552 billion (2005 est.)
Debt - external:$21.13 billion (2005 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$NA
Currency (code):Qatari rial (QAR)
Currency code:QAR
Exchange rates:Qatari rials per US dollar - 3.64 (2005), 3.64 (2004), 3.64 (2003),3.64 (2002), 3.64 (2001)
Fiscal year:1 April - 31 March
Communications Qatar
Telephones - main lines in use:205,400 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:716,800 (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: modern system centered in Dohadomestic: NAinternational: country code - 974; tropospheric scatter to Bahrain;microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia and UAE; submarine cable toBahrain and UAE; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 AtlanticOcean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat
Radio broadcast stations:AM 6, FM 5, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:256,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:1 (plus three repeaters) (2001)
Televisions:230,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.qa
Internet hosts:301 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2000)
Internet users:219,000 (2005)
Transportation Qatar
Airports: 5 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 3over 3,047 m: 21,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 2914 to 1,523 m: 1under 914 m: 1 (2006)
Heliports:1 (2006)
Pipelines:condensate 319 km; condensate/gas 209 km; gas 1,024 km; liquidpetroleum gas 87 km; oil 844 km (2006)
Roadways:total: 1,230 kmpaved: 1,107 kmunpaved: 123 km (1999)
Merchant marine:total: 23 ships (1000 GRT or over) 750,669 GRT/1,177,673 DWTby type: cargo 2, chemical tanker 3, container 8, liquefied gas 2,petroleum tanker 7, roll on/roll off 1foreign-owned: 8 (Kuwait 7, US 1)registered in other countries: 4 (Honduras 1, Liberia 2, Panama 1)(2006)
Ports and terminals:Doha
Military Qatar
Military branches:Qatari Amiri Land Force (QALF), Qatari Amiri Navy (QAN), QatariAmiri Air Force (QAAF)
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service; land forces enlisted personnel are largely unprofessional foreign nationals (2005)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 302,873females age 18-49: 137,856 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 238,566females age 18-49: 116,595 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 7,851females age 18-49: 7,040 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$723 million (FY00)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:10% (FY00)
Transnational Issues Qatar
Disputes - international:none
Trafficking in persons:current situation: Qatar is a destination country for men and womenfrom South and Southeast Asia who migrate willingly, but aresubsequently trafficked into involuntary servitude as domesticworkers and laborers; the problem of trafficking of foreign childrenas camel jockeys was thoroughly addressed by government action in2005, but independent confirmation of the problem's completeelimination is not yet availabletier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Qatar has made noticeable progressin rescuing and repatriating child camel jockeys, establishing ashelter for abused domestic workers, and creating hotlines toregister complaints; however, Qatar is placed on the Tier 2 WatchList for its failure to provide sufficient evidence of increasingefforts to combat trafficking in persons in 2005, particularly withregard to labor exploitation
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
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@Reunion
Introduction Reunion
Background:The Portuguese discovered the uninhabited island in 1513. From the17th to the 19th centuries, French immigration, supplemented byinfluxes of Africans, Chinese, Malays, and Malabar Indians, gave theisland its ethnic mix. The opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 costthe island its importance as a stopover on the East Indies traderoute.
Geography Reunion
Location:Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar
Geographic coordinates:21 06 S, 55 36 E
Map references:World
Area:total: 2,517 sq kmland: 2,507 sq kmwater: 10 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Rhode Island
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:207 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical, but temperature moderates with elevation; cool and dry(May to November), hot and rainy (November to April)
Terrain:mostly rugged and mountainous; fertile lowlands along coast
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Piton des Neiges 3,069 m
Natural resources: fish, arable land, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 13.94% permanent crops: 1.59% other: 84.47% (2005)
Irrigated land:120 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:periodic, devastating cyclones (December to April); Piton de laFournaise on the southeastern coast is an active volcano
Environment - current issues:NA
Geography - note:this mountainous, volcanic island has an active volcano, Piton dela Fournaise; there is a tropical cyclone center at Saint-Denis,which is the monitoring station for the whole of the Indian Ocean
People Reunion
Population:787,584 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 29.8% (male 120,147/female 114,589)15-64 years: 64% (male 248,895/female 255,156)65 years and over: 6.2% (male 19,847/female 28,950) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 26.9 yearsmale: 25.7 yearsfemale: 28.1 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:1.34% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:18.9 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:5.49 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 7.63 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 8.37 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 6.85 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 74.18 yearsmale: 70.78 yearsfemale: 77.75 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.45 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: Reunionese (singular and plural)adjective: Reunionese
Ethnic groups:French, African, Malagasy, Chinese, Pakistani, Indian
Religions:Roman Catholic 86%, Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist (1995)
Languages:French (official), Creole widely used
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 88.9%male: 87%female: 90.8% (2003 est.)
Government Reunion
Country name:conventional long form: Department of Reunionconventional short form: Reunionlocal long form: nonelocal short form: Ile de la Reunionformer: Bourbon Island
Dependency status:overseas department of France
Government type:NA
Capital:name: Saint-Denisgeographic coordinates: 20 52 S, 55 28 Etime difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)
Administrative divisions:none (overseas department of France); there are no first-orderadministrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but thereare 4 arrondissements, 24 communes, and 47 cantons
Independence:none (overseas department of France)
National holiday:Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
Constitution:4 October 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system:French law
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May1995), represented by Prefect Pierre-Henry MACCIONI (since 28 August2006)head of government: President of the General Council Nassimah DINDAR(since NA March 2004) and President of the Regional Council PaulVERGES (since NA March 1993)cabinet: NAelections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-yearterm; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of theFrench Ministry of the Interior; the presidents of the General andRegional Councils are elected by the members of those councils
Legislative branch:unicameral General Council (49 seats; members are elected bydirect, popular vote to serve six-year terms) and a unicameralRegional Council (45 seats; members are elected by direct, popularvote to serve six-year terms)elections: General Council - last held 15 and 22 March 1998 (next tobe held NA); Regional Council - last held 28 March 2004 (next to beheld in 2010)election results: General Council - percent of vote by party - NA;seats by party - various right-wing candidates 13, PCR 10, PS 10,UDF 8, RPR 6, other left-wing candidates 2; Regional Council (secondround) - percent of vote by party - PCR 44.9%, UMP 32.8%, PS-Greens22.3%; seats by party - PCR 27, UMP 11, PS-Greens 7note: Reunion elects three representatives to the French Senate;elections last held in 2001 (next to be held in 2006); results -percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PRC 1, UDF 1, UMP 1;Reunion also elects five deputies to the French National Assembly;elections last held 9 June-16 June 2002 (next to be held in 2007);results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UMP 3, PS1, independent 1
Judicial branch:Court of Appeals or Cour d'Appel
Political parties and leaders:Communist Party of Reunion or PCR [Elie HOARAU]; Rally for theRepublic or RPR [Andre Maurice PIHOUEE]; Socialist Party or PS[Michel VERGOZ]; Union for French Democracy or UDF [Gilbert GERARD];Union for a Popular Movement or UMP
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:InOC, UPU, WFTU
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (overseas department of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US:none (overseas department of France)
Flag description:unofficial, local flag designed to emphasize solidarity among thepeople of Reunion; the field is divided vertically with three narrowstripes of blue, white, and red along the hoist edge representingthe French national flag; the remainder of the field is divideddiagonally into four triangles colored (clockwise from the hoistside) blue, golden yellow, red, and green; in the center, the apexesof the triangles are surmounted by a white disk; the only officialflag is the national flag of France
Economy Reunion
Economy - overview:The economy has traditionally been based on agriculture, butservices now dominate. Sugarcane has been the primary crop for morethan a century, and in some years it accounts for 85% of exports.The government has been pushing the development of a touristindustry to relieve high unemployment, which amounts to one-third ofthe labor force. The gap in Reunion between the well-off and thepoor is extraordinary and accounts for the persistent socialtensions. The white and Indian communities are substantially betteroff than other segments of the population, often approachingEuropean standards, whereas minority groups suffer the poverty andunemployment typical of the poorer nations of the African continent.The outbreak of severe rioting in February 1991 illustrated theseriousness of socioeconomic tensions. The economic well-being ofReunion depends heavily on continued financial assistance fromFrance.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$4.79 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):NA
GDP - real growth rate:2.5% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$6,200 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 8% industry: 19% services: 73% (2000 est.)
Labor force: 299,000 (2002)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 13% industry: 12% services: 75% (2000)
Unemployment rate:31% (2002)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%