Refugees and internally displaced persons:IDPs: 339,000 (displacement from Chechnya and North Ossetia) (2005)
Trafficking in persons:current situation: Russia is a source, transit, and destinationcountry for men, women, and children trafficked for variouspurposes; it remains a significant source of women trafficked toover 50 countries for commercial sexual exploitation; Russia is alsoa transit and destination country for men and women trafficked fromCentral Asia, Eastern Europe, and North Korea to Central and WesternEurope and the Middle East for purposes of forced labor and sexualexploitation; internal trafficking remains a problem in Russia withwomen trafficked from rural areas to urban centers for commercialsexual exploitation, and men are trafficked internally and fromCentral Asia for forced labor in the construction and agriculturalindustries; debt bondage is common among trafficking victims, andchild sex tourism remains a concerntier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Russia is placed on the Tier 2Watch List for a third consecutive year for its continued failure toshow evidence of increasing efforts to combat trafficking,particularly in the area of victim protection and assistance
Illicit drugs:limited cultivation of illicit cannabis and opium poppy andproducer of methamphetamine, mostly for domestic consumption;government has active illicit crop eradication program; used astransshipment point for Asian opiates, cannabis, and Latin Americancocaine bound for growing domestic markets, to a lesser extentWestern and Central Europe, and occasionally to the US; major sourceof heroin precursor chemicals; corruption and organized crime arekey concerns; heroin increasingly popular in domestic market
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
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@Rwanda
Introduction Rwanda
Background:In 1959, three years before independence from Belgium, the majorityethnic group, the Hutus, overthrew the ruling Tutsi king. Over thenext several years, thousands of Tutsis were killed, and some150,000 driven into exile in neighboring countries. The children ofthese exiles later formed a rebel group, the Rwandan Patriotic Front(RPF), and began a civil war in 1990. The war, along with severalpolitical and economic upheavals, exacerbated ethnic tensions,culminating in April 1994 in the genocide of roughly 800,000 Tutsisand moderate Hutus. The Tutsi rebels defeated the Hutu regime andended the killing in July 1994, but approximately 2 million Huturefugees - many fearing Tutsi retribution - fled to neighboringBurundi, Tanzania, Uganda, and the former Zaire. Since then, most ofthe refugees have returned to Rwanda, but about 10,000 remain inneighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo and have formed anextremist insurgency bent on retaking Rwanda, much as the RPF triedin 1990. Despite substantial international assistance and politicalreforms - including Rwanda's first local elections in March 1999 andits first post-genocide presidential and legislative elections inAugust and September 2003 - the country continues to struggle toboost investment and agricultural output, and ethnic reconciliationis complicated by the real and perceived Tutsi political dominance.Kigali's increasing centralization and intolerance of dissent, thenagging Hutu extremist insurgency across the border, and Rwandaninvolvement in two wars in recent years in the neighboringDemocratic Republic of the Congo continue to hinder Rwanda's effortsto escape its bloody legacy.
Geography Rwanda
Location:Central Africa, east of Democratic Republic of the Congo
Geographic coordinates:2 00 S, 30 00 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 26,338 sq kmland: 24,948 sq kmwater: 1,390 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Maryland
Land boundaries:total: 893 kmborder countries: Burundi 290 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo217 km, Tanzania 217 km, Uganda 169 km
Coastline:0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:none (landlocked)
Climate:temperate; two rainy seasons (February to April, November toJanuary); mild in mountains with frost and snow possible
Terrain:mostly grassy uplands and hills; relief is mountainous withaltitude declining from west to east
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Rusizi River 950 mhighest point: Volcan Karisimbi 4,519 m
Natural resources:gold, cassiterite (tin ore), wolframite (tungsten ore), methane,hydropower, arable land
Land use:arable land: 45.56%permanent crops: 10.25%other: 44.19% (2005)
Irrigated land:90 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:periodic droughts; the volcanic Virunga mountains are in thenorthwest along the border with Democratic Republic of the Congo
Environment - current issues:deforestation results from uncontrolled cutting of trees for fuel;overgrazing; soil exhaustion; soil erosion; widespread poaching
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes,Ozone Layer Protectionsigned, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:landlocked; most of the country is savanna grassland with thepopulation predominantly rural
People Rwanda
Population:8,648,248note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account theeffects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lowerlife expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lowerpopulation and growth rates, and changes in the distribution ofpopulation by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 41.9% (male 1,817,998/female 1,802,134)15-64 years: 55.6% (male 2,392,778/female 2,417,467)65 years and over: 2.5% (male 87,325/female 130,546) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 18.6 yearsmale: 18.4 yearsfemale: 18.8 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:2.43% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:40.37 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:16.09 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 89.61 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 94.71 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 84.34 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 47.3 yearsmale: 46.26 yearsfemale: 48.38 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:5.43 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:5.1% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:250,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:22,000 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:degree of risk: very highfood or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, andtyphoid fevervectorborne disease: malaria (2005)
Nationality:noun: Rwandan(s)adjective: Rwandan
Ethnic groups:Hutu 84%, Tutsi 15%, Twa (Pygmoid) 1%
Religions:Roman Catholic 56.5%, Protestant 26%, Adventist 11.1%, Muslim 4.6%,indigenous beliefs 0.1%, none 1.7% (2001)
Languages:Kinyarwanda (official) universal Bantu vernacular, French(official), English (official), Kiswahili (Swahili) used incommercial centers
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 70.4%male: 76.3%female: 64.7% (2003 est.)
People - note:Rwanda is the most densely populated country in Africa
Government Rwanda
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Rwandaconventional short form: Rwandalocal long form: Republika y'u Rwandalocal short form: Rwandaformer: Ruanda, German East Africa
Government type:republic; presidential, multiparty system
Capital:name: Kigaligeographic coordinates: 1 57 S, 30 04 Etime difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)
Administrative divisions:12 provinces (in French - provinces, singular - province; inKinyarwanda - prefigintara for singular and plural); Butare, Byumba,Cyangugu, Gikongoro, Gisenyi, Gitarama, Kibungo, Kibuye, KigaliRurale, Kigali-ville, Umutara, Ruhengeri
Independence:1 July 1962 (from Belgium-administered UN trusteeship)
National holiday:Independence Day, 1 July (1962)
Constitution:new constitution adopted 4 June 2003
Legal system:based on German and Belgian civil law systems and customary law;judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has notaccepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal adult
Executive branch:chief of state: President Paul KAGAME (since 22 April 2000)head of government: Prime Minister Bernard MAKUZA (since 8 March2000)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the presidentelections: President elected by popular vote for a seven-year term(eligible for a second term); elections last held 25 August 2003(next to be held NA 2008)election results: Paul KAGAME elected president in first directpopular vote; Paul KAGAME 95.05%, Faustin TWAGIRAMUNGU 3.62%,Jean-Nepomuscene NAYINZIRA 1.33%
Legislative branch:bicameral Parliament consists of Senate (26 seats; 12 memberselected local councils, 8 appointed by the president, 4 by thePolitical Organizations Forum, 2 represent institutions of higherlearning, to serve eight-year terms) and Chamber of Deputies (80seats; 53 members elected by popular vote, 24 women elected by localbodies, 3 selected by youth and disability organizations, to servefive-year terms)elections: Senate - last held NA, members appointed as part of thetransitional government (next to be held in 2011); Chamber ofDeputies - last held 29 September 2003 (next to be held in 2008)election results: seats by party under the 2003 Constitution - RPF40, PSD 7, PL 6, additional 27 members indirectly elected
Judicial branch:Supreme Court; High Courts of the Republic; Provincial Courts;District Courts; mediation committees
Political parties and leaders:Centrist Democratic Party or PDC [Alfred MUKEZAMFURA]; DemocraticPopular Union of Rwanda or UDPR [Adrien RANGIRA]; DemocraticRepublican Movement or MDR [Celestin KABANDA] (officially banned);Islamic Democratic Party or PDI [Andre BUMAYA]; Liberal Party or PL[Prosper HIGIRO]; Party for Democratic Renewal (officially banned);Rwandan Patriotic Front or RPF [Paul KAGAME]; Social DemocraticParty or PSD [Vincent BIRUTA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:IBUKA - association of genocide survivors
International organization participation:ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, CEPGL, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU,ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO(correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,UNIDO, UNMIS, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Zac NSENGAchancery: 1714 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009telephone: [1] (202) 232-2882FAX: [1] (202) 232-4544
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Michael ARIETTI embassy: 337 Boulevard de la Revolution, Kigali mailing address: B. P. 28, Kigali telephone: [250] 50 56 01 through 03 FAX: [250] 57 2128
Flag description:three horizontal bands of sky blue (top, double width), yellow, andgreen, with a golden sun with 24 rays near the fly end of the blueband
Economy Rwanda
Economy - overview:Rwanda is a poor rural country with about 90% of the populationengaged in (mainly subsistence) agriculture. It is the most denselypopulated country in Africa and is landlocked with few naturalresources and minimal industry. Primary foreign exchange earners arecoffee and tea. The 1994 genocide decimated Rwanda's fragileeconomic base, severely impoverished the population, particularlywomen, and eroded the country's ability to attract private andexternal investment. However, Rwanda has made substantial progressin stabilizing and rehabilitating its economy to pre-1994 levels,although poverty levels are higher now. GDP has rebounded andinflation has been curbed. Despite Rwanda's fertile ecosystem, foodproduction often does not keep pace with population growth,requiring food imports. Rwanda continues to receive substantial aidmoney and obtained IMF-World Bank Heavily Indebted Poor Country(HIPC) initiative debt relief in 2005. Kigali's high defenseexpenditures have caused tension between the government andinternational donors and lending agencies. An energy shortage andinstability in neighboring states may slow growth in 2006, while thelack of adequate transportation linkages to other countriescontinues to handicap export growth.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$12.54 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$1.817 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:5.2% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$1,500 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 40.1% industry: 22.9% services: 37% (2005 est.)
Labor force: 4.6 million (2000)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 90% industry and services: 10%
Unemployment rate:NA%
Population below poverty line:60% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 4.2% highest 10%: 24.2% (1985)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:28.9 (1985)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):8% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):18.1% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:revenues: $509.9 millionexpenditures: $584.6 million; including capital expenditures of $NA(2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:coffee, tea, pyrethrum (insecticide made from chrysanthemums),bananas, beans, sorghum, potatoes; livestock
Industries:cement, agricultural products, small-scale beverages, soap,furniture, shoes, plastic goods, textiles, cigarettes
Industrial production growth rate:7% (2001 est.)
Electricity - production:98 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 2.3% hydro: 97.7% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:121.1 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:30 million kWh (2003)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - consumption:6,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:NA bbl/day
Oil - proved reserves:0 bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:56.63 billion cu m (1 January 2002)
Current account balance:$-166 million (2005 est.)
Exports:$98 million f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:coffee, tea, hides, tin ore
Exports - partners:Germany 11%, China 6.5%, Belgium 4.5% (2005)
Imports:$243 million f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, steel, petroleum products,cement and construction material
Imports - partners:Kenya 23.8%, Uganda 6.2%, Belgium 5.4%, Germany 5.3% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$357 million (2005 est.)
Debt - external:$1.4 billion (2004 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$425 million (2003)
Currency (code):Rwandan franc (RWF)
Currency code:RWF
Exchange rates:Rwandan francs per US dollar - 610 (2005), 574.62 (2004), 537.66(2003), 476.33 (2002), 442.8 (2001)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Rwanda
Telephones - main lines in use:23,000 (2004)
Telephones - mobile cellular:290,000note: Rwanda has mobile cellular service between Kigali and severalprovincial capitals (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: telephone system primarily serves business andgovernmentdomestic: the capital, Kigali, is connected to the centers of theprovinces by microwave radio relay and, recently, by cellulartelephone service; much of the network depends on wire and HFradiotelephoneinternational: country code - 250; international connections employmicrowave radio relay to neighboring countries and satellitecommunications to more distant countries; satellite earth stations -1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) in Kigali (includes telex and telefaxservice)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 0, FM 8 (two main FM programs are broadcast through a system ofrepeaters, three international FM programs include the BBC, VOA, andDeutchewelle), shortwave 1 (2005)
Radios:601,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:2 (2004)
Televisions:NA; probably less than 1,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.rw
Internet hosts:1,590 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):2 (2002)
Internet users:38,000 (2005)
Transportation Rwanda
Airports: 9 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 4 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 5914 to 1,523 m: 2under 914 m: 3 (2006)
Roadways:total: 12,000 kmpaved: 996 kmunpaved: 11,004 km (1999)
Waterways:Lac Kivu navigable by shallow-draft barges and native craft (2005)
Ports and terminals:Cyangugu, Gisenyi, Kibuye
Military Rwanda
Military branches:Rwandan Defense Forces: Army, Air Force
Military service age and obligation:16 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription(2001)
Manpower available for military service:males age 16-49: 2,004,750females age 16-49: 1,990,935 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 16-49: 1,103,823females age 16-49: 1,096,644 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$53.66 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:2.9% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Rwanda
Disputes - international:Tutsi, Hutu, Hema, Lendu, and other conflicting ethnic groups,associated political rebels, armed gangs, and various governmentforces continue fighting in Great Lakes region, transcending theboundaries of Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, andUganda to gain control over populated areas and natural resources -government heads pledge to end conflicts, but localized violencecontinues despite UN peacekeeping efforts; DROC and Rwandaestablished a border verification mechanism in 2005 to addressaccusations of Rwandan military supporting Congolese rebels and theCongo providing rebel Rwandan "Interhamwe" forces the means andbases to attack Rwandan forces; as of 2004, Rwandan refugees livedin the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, and Zambia
Refugees and internally displaced persons:refugees (country of origin): 45,460 (Democratic Republic of theCongo)IDPs: 4,158 (incursions by Hutu rebels from Democratic Republic ofthe Congo, 1997-99; most IDPs in northwest) (2005)
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
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@Saint Helena
Introduction Saint Helena
Background:Saint Helena is a British Overseas Territory consisting of SaintHelena and Ascension Islands, and the island group of Tristan daCunha.Saint Helena: Uninhabited when first discovered by the Portuguese in1502, Saint Helena was garrisoned by the British during the 17thcentury. It acquired fame as the place of Napoleon BONAPARTE'sexile, from 1815 until his death in 1821, but its importance as aport of call declined after the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869.During the Anglo-Boer War in South Africa, several thousand Boerprisoners were confined on the island between 1900 and 1903.Ascension Island: This barren and uninhabited island was discoveredand named by the Portuguese in 1503. The British garrisoned theisland in 1815 to prevent a rescue of Napoleon from Saint Helena andit served as a provisioning station for the Royal Navy's West AfricaSquadron on anti-slavery patrol. The island remained under Admiraltycontrol until 1922, when it became a dependency of Saint Helena.During World War II, the UK permitted the US to construct anairfield on Ascension in support of trans-Atlantic flights to Africaand anti-submarine operations in the South Atlantic. In the 1960sthe island became an important space tracking station for the US. In1982, Ascension was an essential staging area for British forcesduring the Falklands War, and it remains a critical refueling pointin the air-bridge from the UK to the South Atlantic.Tristan da Cunha: The island group consists of the islands ofTristan da Cunha, Nightingale, Inaccessible, and Gough. Tristan daCunha is named after its Portuguese discoverer (1506); it wasgarrisoned by the British in 1816 to prevent any attempt to rescueNapoleon from Saint Helena. Gough and Inaccessible Islands have beendesignated World Heritage Sites. South Africa leases the site for ameteorological station on Gough Island.
Geography Saint Helena
Location:islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, about midway between SouthAmerica and Africa; Ascension Island lies 700 nm northwest of SaintHelena; Tristan da Cunha lies 2300 nm southwest of Saint Helena
Geographic coordinates:Saint Helena: 15 57 S 5 42 WAscension Island: 7 57 S 14 22 WTristan da Cunha island group: 37 15 S 12 30 W
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 413 sq kmland: Saint Helena Island 122 sq km; Ascension Island 90 sq km;Tristan da Cunha island group 201 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:Saint Helena: 60 kmAscension Island: NATristan da Cunha: 40 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmexclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate:Saint Helena: tropical marine; mild, tempered by trade windsAscension Island: tropical marine; mild, semi-aridTristan da Cunha: temperate marine; mild, tempered by trade winds(tends to be cooler than Saint Helena)
Terrain:the islands of this group result from volcanic activity associatedwith the Atlantic Mid-Ocean RidgeSaint Helena: rugged, volcanic; small scattered plateaus and plainsAscension: surface covered by lava flows and cinder cones of 44dormant volcanoes; ground rises to the eastTristan da Cunha: sheer cliffs line the coastline of the nearlycircular island; the flanks of the central volcanic peak are deeplydissected; narrow coastal plain lies between The Peak and thecoastal cliffs
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 mhighest point: Queen Mary's Peak on Tristan da Cunha 2,062 m; GreenMountain on Ascension Island 859 m; Mount Actaeon on Saint HelenaIsland 818 m
Natural resources:fish, lobster
Land use:arable land: 12.9%permanent crops: 0%other: 87.1% (2005)
Irrigated land:NA
Natural hazards:active volcanism on Tristan da Cunha, last eruption in 1961
Environment - current issues:NA
Geography - note:Saint Helena harbors at least 40 species of plants unknown anywhereelse in the world; Ascension is a breeding ground for sea turtlesand sooty terns; Queen Mary's Peak on Tristan da Cunha is thehighest island mountain in the South Atlantic and a prominentlandmark on the sea lanes around southern Africa
People Saint Helena
Population:7,502note: only Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha islands areinhabited (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 18.8% (male 717/female 692)15-64 years: 71.2% (male 2,751/female 2,593)65 years and over: 10% (male 342/female 407) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 36 yearsmale: 36.2 yearsfemale: 35.8 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:0.56% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:12.13 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:6.53 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: 0.84 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 18.34 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 21.96 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 14.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 77.93 yearsmale: 75.02 yearsfemale: 80.98 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.55 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: Saint Helenian(s)adjective: Saint Heleniannote: referred to locally as "Saints"
Ethnic groups:African descent 50%, white 25%, Chinese 25%
Religions:Anglican (majority), Baptist, Seventh-Day Adventist, Roman Catholic
Languages:English
Literacy:definition: age 20 and over can read and writetotal population: 97%male: 97%female: 98% (1987 est.)
Government Saint Helena
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Saint Helena
Dependency status:overseas territory of the UK
Government type:NA
Capital:name: Jamestowngeographic coordinates: 15 56 S, 5 44 Wtime difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)
Administrative divisions:1 administrative area and 2 dependencies*; Ascension*, SaintHelena, Tristan da Cunha*
Independence:none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday:Birthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, second Saturday in June (1926)
Constitution:1 January 1989
Legal system:British common law and statutes, supplemented by local statutes
Suffrage:NA years of age
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)head of government: Governor and Commander in Chief Michael CLANCY(since 15 October 2004)cabinet: Executive Council consists of the governor, threeex-officio officers, and five elected members of the LegislativeCouncilelections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor is appointed bythe monarch
Legislative branch:unicameral Legislative Council (16 seats, including the speaker, 3ex officio and 12 elected members; members are elected by popularvote to serve four-year terms)elections: last held 31 August 2005 (next to be held NA 2009)election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 12
Judicial branch:Magistrate's Court; Supreme Court; Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders:none
Political pressure groups and leaders:none
International organization participation:ICFTU, UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US:none (overseas territory of the UK)
Flag description:blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant andthe Saint Helenian shield centered on the outer half of the flag;the shield features a rocky coastline and three-masted sailing ship
Economy Saint Helena
Economy - overview:The economy depends largely on financial assistance from the UK,which amounted to about $5 million in 1997 or almost one-half ofannual budgetary revenues. The local population earns income fromfishing, raising livestock, and sales of handicrafts. Because thereare few jobs, 25% of the work force has left to seek employment onAscension Island, on the Falklands, and in the UK.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$18 million (1998 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):NA
GDP - real growth rate:NA%
GDP - per capita (PPP):$2,500 (1998 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Labor force: 2,486 note: 1,200 work offshore (1998 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 6% industry: 48% services: 46% (1987 est.)
Unemployment rate:14% (1998 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):3.2% (1997 est.)
Budget:revenues: $11.2 millionexpenditures: $11 million; including capital expenditures of $NA(FY92/93)
Agriculture - products:coffee, corn, potatoes, vegetables; timber; fish, lobster (onTristan da Cunha)
Industries:construction, crafts (furniture, lacework, fancy woodwork),fishing, philatelic sales
Industrial production growth rate:NA%
Electricity - production:5 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:4.65 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2003)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - consumption:100 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:NA bbl/day
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:0 cu m (2003 est.)
Exports:$19 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:fish (frozen, canned, and salt-dried skipjack, tuna), coffee,handicrafts
Exports - partners:Tanzania 37.7%, US 17.4%, Japan 15.2%, UK 8.4%, Nigeria 4.8%, Spain4.5% (2005)
Imports:$45 million c.i.f. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:food, beverages, tobacco, fuel oils, animal feed, buildingmaterials, motor vehicles and parts, machinery and parts
Imports - partners:UK 53.5%, South Africa 14.3%, Spain 10.3%, Tanzania 8.5%, US 4.6%(2005)
Debt - external:$NA
Economic aid - recipient:$12.6 million (1995); note - $5.3 million from UK (1997)
Currency (code):Saint Helenian pound (SHP)
Currency code:SHP
Exchange rates:Saint Helenian pounds per US dollar - 0.55 (2005), 0.5462 (2004),0.6125 (2003), 0.6672 (2002), 0.6947 (2001)note: the Saint Helenian pound is on par with the British pound
Fiscal year:1 April - 31 March
Communications Saint Helena
Telephones - main lines in use:2,200 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:NA
Telephone system:general assessment: can communicate worldwidedomestic: automatic digital networkinternational: country code - 290; international direct dialing;satellite voice and data communications; satellite earth stations -5 (Ascension Island - 4, Saint Helena - 1)
Radio broadcast stations:Saint Helena: AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0Ascension: AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 1 (2005)
Radios:3,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:0note: three television channels are received in Saint Helena viasatellite and distributed by UHF (2005)
Televisions:2,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.sh; note - the IANA has assigned .ac as the ccTLD for AscensionIsland
Internet hosts:329 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2000)
Internet users:1,000 note - includes Ascension Island (2003)
Communications - note:South Africa maintains a meteorological station on Gough Island
Transportation Saint Helena
Airports:1note: Wideawake Field on Ascension Island (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 1over 3,047 m: 1 (2006)
Roadways:total: 198 km (Saint Helena 138 km, Ascension 40 km, Tristan daCunha 20 km)paved: 168 km (Saint Helena 118km, Ascension 40 km, Tristan da Cunha10 km)unpaved: 30 km (Saint Helena 20 km, Ascension 0 km, Tristan da Cunha10 km) (2002)
Ports and terminals:Saint Helena: JamestownAscension Island: GeorgetownTristan da Cunha: Calshot Harbor
Transportation - note:there is no air connection to Saint Helena or Tristan da Cunha; aninternational airport for Saint Helena is in development for 2010
Military Saint Helena
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues Saint Helena
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
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@Saint Kitts and Nevis
Introduction Saint Kitts and Nevis
Background:First settled by the British in 1623, the islands became anassociated state with full internal autonomy in 1967. The island ofAnguilla rebelled and was allowed to secede in 1971. Saint Kitts andNevis achieved independence in 1983. In 1998, a vote in Nevis on areferendum to separate from Saint Kitts fell short of the two-thirdsmajority needed. Nevis continues in its efforts to try and separatefrom Saint Kitts.
Geography Saint Kitts and Nevis
Location:Caribbean, islands in the Caribbean Sea, about one-third of the wayfrom Puerto Rico to Trinidad and Tobago
Geographic coordinates:17 20 N, 62 45 W
Map references:Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total: 261 sq km (Saint Kitts 168 sq km; Nevis 93 sq km)land: 261 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:135 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:tropical, tempered by constant sea breezes; little seasonaltemperature variation; rainy season (May to November)
Terrain:volcanic with mountainous interiors
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Liamuiga 1,156 m
Natural resources: arable land
Land use: arable land: 19.44% permanent crops: 2.78% other: 77.78% (2005)
Irrigated land:NA
Natural hazards:hurricanes (July to October)
Environment - current issues:NA
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection,Ship Pollution, Whalingsigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:with coastlines in the shape of a baseball bat and ball, the twovolcanic islands are separated by a three-km-wide channel called TheNarrows; on the southern tip of long, baseball bat-shaped SaintKitts lies the Great Salt Pond; Nevis Peak sits in the center of itsalmost circular namesake island and its ball shape complements thatof its sister island
People Saint Kitts and Nevis
Population:39,129 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 27.5% (male 5,515/female 5,263)15-64 years: 64.3% (male 12,605/female 12,572)65 years and over: 8.1% (male 1,313/female 1,861) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 27.8 yearsmale: 27.1 yearsfemale: 28.6 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:0.5% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:18.02 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:8.33 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:-4.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.06 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 14.12 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 15.85 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 12.28 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 72.4 yearsmale: 69.56 yearsfemale: 75.42 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.31 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: Kittitian(s), Nevisian(s) adjective: Kittitian, Nevisian
Ethnic groups:predominantly black; some British, Portuguese, and Lebanese
Religions:Anglican, other Protestant, Roman Catholic
Languages:English
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over has ever attended schooltotal population: 97.8%male: NA%female: NA% (2003 est.)
Government Saint Kitts and Nevis
Country name:conventional long form: Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevisconventional short form: Saint Kitts and Nevisformer: Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis
Government type:parliamentary democracy
Capital:name: Basseterregeographic coordinates: 17 18 N, 62 43 Wtime difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)
Administrative divisions:14 parishes; Christ Church Nichola Town, Saint Anne Sandy Point,Saint George Basseterre, Saint George Gingerland, Saint JamesWindward, Saint John Capesterre, Saint John Figtree, Saint MaryCayon, Saint Paul Capesterre, Saint Paul Charlestown, Saint PeterBasseterre, Saint Thomas Lowland, Saint Thomas Middle Island,Trinity Palmetto Point
Independence:19 September 1983 (from UK)
National holiday:Independence Day, 19 September (1983)
Constitution:19 September 1983
Legal system:based on English common law
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),represented by Governor General Cuthbert Montraville SEBASTIAN(since 1 January 1996)head of government: Prime Minister Dr. Denzil DOUGLAS (since 6 July1995) and Deputy Prime Minister Sam CONDOR (since 6 July 1995)cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general in consultationwith the prime ministerelections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the governor general isappointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, theleader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition isusually appointed prime minister by the governor general; deputyprime minister appointed by the governor general
Legislative branch:unicameral National Assembly (14 seats, 3 appointed and 11popularly elected from single-member constituencies; members servefive-year terms)elections: last held 25 October 2004 (next to be held by 2009)election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -SKNLP 7, CCM 2, NRP 1, PAM 1
Judicial branch:Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based on Saint Lucia; one judge ofthe Supreme Court resides in Saint Kitts and Nevis)
Political parties and leaders:Concerned Citizens Movement or CCM [Vance AMORY]; Nevis ReformationParty or NRP [Joseph PARRY]; People's Action Movement or PAM[Lindsey GRANT]; Saint Kitts and Nevis Labor Party or SKNLP [Dr.Denzil DOUGLAS]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM,IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, MIGA, OAS,OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Izben Cordinal WILLIAMS chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016 telephone: [1] (202) 686-2636 FAX: [1] (202) 686-5740 consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:the US does not have an embassy in Saint Kitts and Nevis; the USAmbassador to Barbados is accredited to Saint Kitts and Nevis
Flag description:divided diagonally from the lower hoist side by a broad black bandbearing two white, five-pointed stars; the black band is edged inyellow; the upper triangle is green, the lower triangle is red
Economy Saint Kitts and Nevis
Economy - overview:Sugar was the traditional mainstay of the Saint Kitts economy untilthe 1970s. Although the crop still dominates the agriculturalsector, activities such as tourism, export-oriented manufacturing,and offshore banking have assumed larger roles in the economy.Tourism revenues are now the chief source of the islands' foreignexchange; about 40,000 tourist visited Nevis during the 2003-2004season. Additional tourist facilities, including a second cruiseship pier, hotels, and golf courses are under construction.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$339 million (2002 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$453 million
GDP - real growth rate:4.9% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$8,200 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 3.5% industry: 25.8% services: 70.7% (2001)
Labor force:18,170 (June 1995)
Unemployment rate:4.5% (1997)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):8.7% (2005 est.)
Budget:revenues: $89.7 millionexpenditures: $128.2 million; including capital expenditures of$19.5 million (2003 est.)
Agriculture - products:sugarcane, rice, yams, vegetables, bananas; fish
Industries:sugar processing, tourism, cotton, salt, copra, clothing, footwear,beverages
Industrial production growth rate:NA%
Electricity - production:111.7 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:103.9 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2003)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - consumption:700 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:NA bbl/day
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:0 cu m (2003 est.)
Exports:$70 million (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:machinery, food, electronics, beverages, tobacco
Exports - partners:US 63.5%, Canada 8.4%, UK 5.8% (2005)
Imports:$405 million (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery, manufactures, food, fuels
Imports - partners:US 46.9%, Trinidad and Tobago 13.7%, UK 5.4%, France 4.5%, Japan4.2% (2005)
Debt - external:$314 million (2004)
Economic aid - recipient:$-110,000 (2004)
Currency (code):East Caribbean dollar (XCD)
Currency code:XCD
Exchange rates:East Caribbean dollars per US dollar - 2.7 (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7(2003), 2.7 (2002), 2.7 (2001)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Saint Kitts and Nevis
Telephones - main lines in use:25,000 (2004)
Telephones - mobile cellular:10,000 (2004)
Telephone system:general assessment: good inter-island and international connectionsdomestic: inter-island links via Eastern Caribbean Fiber Opticcable; construction of enhanced wireless infrastructure launched inNovember 2004international: country code - 1-869; international calls are carriedby submarine cable or Intelsat
Radio broadcast stations:AM 3, FM 3, shortwave 0 (2004)
Radios:28,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:1 (plus three repeaters) (2004)
Televisions:10,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.kn
Internet hosts:50 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):16 (2000)
Internet users:10,000 (2002)
Transportation Saint Kitts and Nevis
Airports:2 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 21,524 to 2,437 m: 1914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)
Railways:total: 50 kmnarrow gauge: 50 km 0.762-m gauge on Saint Kitts to serve sugarcaneplantations during harvest season and for tourists (2005)
Roadways:total: 320 kmpaved: 138 kmunpaved: 182 km (1999 est)
Merchant marine:total: 50 ships (1000 GRT or over) 261,556 GRT/381,593 DWTby type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 36, chemical tanker 5,passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 5, refrigerated cargo 1foreign-owned: 41 (Greece 1, Monaco 1, Russia 5, Spain 2, Syria 3,Tanzania 1, Turkey 6, UAE 19, Ukraine 3) (2006)
Ports and terminals:Basseterre, Charlestown
Military Saint Kitts and Nevis
Military branches:Saint Kitts and Nevis Defense Force (includes Coast Guard), RoyalSaint Kitts and Nevis Police Force
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age (est.) (2004)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 9,196females age 18-49: 9,236 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 7,119females age 18-49: 7,645 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 357females age 18-49: 347 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:NA
Transnational Issues Saint Kitts and Nevis
Disputes - international:joins other Caribbean states to counter Venezuela's claim that AvesIsland sustains human habitation, a criterion under UNCLOS, whichpermits Venezuela to extend its EEZ/continental shelf over a largeportion of the Caribbean Sea
Illicit drugs:transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the USand Europe; some money-laundering activity
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
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@Saint Lucia
Introduction Saint Lucia
Background:The island, with its fine natural harbor at Castries, was contestedbetween England and France throughout the 17th and early 18thcenturies (changing possession 14 times); it was finally ceded tothe UK in 1814. Even after the abolition of slavery on itsplantations in 1834, Saint Lucia remained an agricultural island,dedicated to producing tropical commodity crops. Self-government wasgranted in 1967 and independence in 1979.
Geography Saint Lucia
Location:Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and North AtlanticOcean, north of Trinidad and Tobago
Geographic coordinates:13 53 N, 60 58 W
Map references:Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total: 616 sq kmland: 606 sq kmwater: 10 sq km
Area - comparative:3.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:158 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:tropical, moderated by northeast trade winds; dry season January toApril, rainy season May to August
Terrain:volcanic and mountainous with some broad, fertile valleys
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 mhighest point: Mount Gimie 950 m
Natural resources:forests, sandy beaches, minerals (pumice), mineral springs,geothermal potential
Land use: arable land: 6.45% permanent crops: 22.58% other: 70.97% (2005)
Irrigated land:30 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:hurricanes and volcanic activity
Environment - current issues:deforestation; soil erosion, particularly in the northern region
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, EnvironmentalModification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whalingsigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:the twin Pitons (Gros Piton and Petit Piton), striking cone-shapedpeaks south of Soufriere, are one of the scenic natural highlightsof the Caribbean