Refugees and internally displaced persons:refugees (country of origin): 110,927 (Eritrea) 5,023 (Chad) 7,983(Uganda) 14,812 (Ethiopia)IDPs: 5,300,000 - 6,200,000 (internal conflict since 1980s; ongoinggenocide) (2005)
Trafficking in persons:current situation: Sudan is a source country for men, women, andchildren trafficked for the purposes of forced labor and sexualexploitation; Sudan may also be a transit and destination countryfor Ethiopian women trafficked for domestic servitude; boys aretrafficked to the Middle East, particularly Qatar and the UnitedArab Emirates, for use as camel jockeys; small numbers of girls arereportedly trafficked within Sudan for domestic servitude, as wellas for commercial sexual exploitation in small brothels ininternally displaced persons (IDP) camps; the terrorist rebelorganization "Lord's Resistance Army" (LRA) continues to abduct andforcibly conscript small numbers of children in Southern Sudan foruse as cooks, porters, and combatants in its ongoing war againstUganda; some of these children are then trafficked across bordersinto Uganda or possibly the Democratic Republic of the Congo;children are utilized by rebel groups and the Sudanese Armed Forcesand associated militias in the ongoing conflict in Darfur; duringthe decades of civil war, thousands of Dinka women and children wereenslaved by members of Baggara tribes and subjected to various formsof forced labor without remuneration, as well as physical and sexualabuse; with the cessation of the North-South conflict and theongoing peace process, there were no known new abductions of Dinkaby Baggara tribes during 2005; however, inter-tribal abductions of adifferent nature continue in Southern Sudan and warrant furtherinvestigationtier rating: Tier 3 - Sudan does not fully comply with the minimumstandards for the elimination of trafficking and is not makingsignificant efforts to do so
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
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@Suriname
Introduction Suriname
Background:First explored by the Spaniards in the 16th century and thensettled by the English in the mid-17th century, Suriname became aDutch colony in 1667. With the abolition of slavery in 1863, workerswere brought in from India and Java. Independence from theNetherlands was granted in 1975. Five years later the civiliangovernment was replaced by a military regime that soon declared asocialist republic. It continued to exert control through asuccession of nominally civilian administrations until 1987, wheninternational pressure finally forced a democratic election. In1990, the military overthrew the civilian leadership, but ademocratically elected government - a four-party New Front coalition- returned to power in 1991 and has ruled since.
Geography Suriname
Location:Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, betweenFrench Guiana and Guyana
Geographic coordinates:4 00 N, 56 00 W
Map references:South America
Area:total: 163,270 sq kmland: 161,470 sq kmwater: 1,800 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly larger than Georgia
Land boundaries: total: 1,707 km border countries: Brazil 597 km, French Guiana 510 km, Guyana 600 km
Coastline: 386 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical; moderated by trade winds
Terrain:mostly rolling hills; narrow coastal plain with swamps
Elevation extremes:lowest point: unnamed location in the coastal plain -2 mhighest point: Juliana Top 1,230 m
Natural resources:timber, hydropower, fish, kaolin, shrimp, bauxite, gold, and smallamounts of nickel, copper, platinum, iron ore
Land use: arable land: 0.36% permanent crops: 0.06% other: 99.58% (2005)
Irrigated land:510 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:NA
Environment - current issues: deforestation as timber is cut for export; pollution of inland waterways by small-scale mining activities
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection,Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:smallest independent country on South American continent; mostlytropical rain forest; great diversity of flora and fauna that, forthe most part, is increasingly threatened by new development;relatively small population, mostly along the coast
People Suriname
Population:439,117 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 29% (male 65,412/female 62,069)15-64 years: 64.7% (male 145,913/female 138,076)65 years and over: 6.3% (male 12,223/female 15,424) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 26.5 yearsmale: 26 yearsfemale: 26.9 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:0.2% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:18.02 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:7.27 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:-8.76 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 23.02 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 26.89 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 18.95 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 69.01 yearsmale: 66.66 yearsfemale: 71.47 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.32 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:1.7% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:5,200 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 500 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Surinamer(s)adjective: Surinamese
Ethnic groups:Hindustani (also known locally as "East Indians"; their ancestorsemigrated from northern India in the latter part of the 19thcentury) 37%, Creole (mixed white and black) 31%, Javanese 15%,"Maroons" (their African ancestors were brought to the country inthe 17th and 18th centuries as slaves and escaped to the interior)10%, Amerindian 2%, Chinese 2%, white 1%, other 2%
Religions:Hindu 27.4%, Protestant 25.2% (predominantly Moravian), RomanCatholic 22.8%, Muslim 19.6%, indigenous beliefs 5%
Languages:Dutch (official), English (widely spoken), Sranang Tongo(Surinamese, sometimes called Taki-Taki, is native language ofCreoles and much of the younger population and is lingua francaamong others), Hindustani (a dialect of Hindi), Javanese
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 88%male: 92.3%female: 84.1% (2000 est.)
Government Suriname
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Surinameconventional short form: Surinamelocal long form: Republiek Surinamelocal short form: Surinameformer: Netherlands Guiana, Dutch Guiana
Government type:constitutional democracy
Capital:name: Paramaribogeographic coordinates: 5 50 N, 55 10 Wtime difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)
Administrative divisions:10 districts (distrikten, singular - distrikt); Brokopondo,Commewijne, Coronie, Marowijne, Nickerie, Para, Paramaribo,Saramacca, Sipaliwini, Wanica
Independence:25 November 1975 (from Netherlands)
National holiday:Independence Day, 25 November (1975)
Constitution:ratified 30 September 1987
Legal system:based on Dutch legal system incorporating French penal theory;accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Runaldo Ronald VENETIAAN (since 12 August2000); Vice President Ram SARDJOE (since 3 August 2005); note - thepresident is both the chief of state and head of governmenthead of government: President Runaldo Ronald VENETIAAN (since 12August 2000); Vice President Ram SARDJOE (since 3 August 2005); note- the president is both the chief of state and head of governmentcabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the presidentelections: president and vice president elected by the NationalAssembly or, if no presidential or vice presidential candidatereceives a two-thirds constitutional majority in the NationalAssembly after two votes, by a simple majority in the larger UnitedPeople's Assembly (893 representatives from the national, local, andregional councils), for five-year terms (no term limits); electionlast held 25 May 2005 (next to be held in 2010)election results: Runaldo Ronald VENETIAAN reelected president;percent of vote - Runaldo Ronald VENETIAAN 62.9%, Rabin PARMESSAR35.4%, other 1.7%; note - after two votes in the parliament failedto secure a two-thirds majority for a candidate, the vote then wentto a special session of the United People's Assembly on 3 August 2005
Legislative branch:unicameral National Assembly or Nationale Assemblee (51 seats;members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)elections: last held 25 May 2005 (next to be held in 2010)election results: percent of vote by party - NF 39.73%, NDP 22.2%,VVV 13.79%, A-Com 7.21%, A-1 5.86%, other 7.42%; seats by party - NF23, NDP 15, VVV 5, A-Com 5, A-1 3
Judicial branch:Cantonal Courts and a Court of Justice as an appellate court(justices are nominated for life)
Political parties and leaders:Alternative-1 or A-1 (a coalition of Amazone Party of Suriname orAPS [Kenneth VAN GENDEREN], Democrats of the 21st Century or D-21[Soewarto MOESTADJA], Nieuw Suriname or NS [Radjen Nanan PANDAY],Political Wing of the FAL or PVF [Jiwan SITAL], Trefpunt 2000 orT-2000 [Arti JESSURUN]); General Interior Development Party or ABOP[Ronnie BRUNSWIJK]; National Democratic Party or NDP [DesireBOUTERSE]; New Front for Democracy and Development or NF (acoalition which includes A-Combination or A-Com [leader NA],Democratic Alternative 1991 or DA-91 which split from the A-1 beforethe elections of May 2005 and are an independent, business-orientedparty [Winston JESSURUN], National Party Suriname or NPS [RonaldVENETIAAN], United Reform Party or VHP [Ram SARDJOE], Pertjaja Luhuror PL [Salam Paul SOMOHARDJO], Surinamese Labor Party or SPA[Siegfried GILDS]); Party for Democracy and Development in Unity orDOE [Marten SCHALKWIJK]; People's Alliance for Progress or VVV (acoalition of Democratic National Platform 2000 or DNP-2000 [JulesWIJDENBOSCH], Grassroots Party for Renewal and Democracy or BVD[Tjan GOBARDHAN], Party for National Unity and Solidarity of theHighest Order or KTPI [Willy SOEMITA], Party for Progression,Justice, and Perseverance or PPRS [Renee KAIMAN], Pendawalima or PL[Raymond SAPOEN]); Progressive Laborers and Farmers Union or PALU[Jim HOK]; Progressive Political Party or PPP [Surinder MUNGRA];Seeka [Paul ABENA]; Union of Progressive Surinamers or UPS [SheoradjPANDAY]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Association of Indigenous Village Chiefs [Ricardo PANE];Association of Saramaccan Authorities or Maroon [Head Captain WASE];Women's Parliament Forum or PVF [Iris GILLIAD]
International organization participation:ACP, Caricom, CSN, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDB,IFAD, IFRCS, IHO (suspended), ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU,ITU, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OIC, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Henry Lothar ILLES chancery: Suite 460, 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 244-7488 FAX: [1] (202) 244-5878 consulate(s) general: Miami
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Lisa Bobbie SCHREIBER HUGHES embassy: Dr. Sophie Redmondstraat 129, Paramaribo mailing address: US Department of State, 3390 Paramaribo Place, Washington, DC, 20521-3390 telephone: [597] 472-900 FAX: [597] 425-690
Flag description:five horizontal bands of green (top, double width), white, red(quadruple width), white, and green (double width); there is alarge, yellow, five-pointed star centered in the red band
Economy Suriname
Economy - overview:The economy is dominated by the mining industry, which accounts formore than a third of GDP and subjects government revenues to mineralprice volatility. The short-term economic outlook depends on thegovernment's ability to control inflation and on the development ofprojects in the bauxite and gold mining sectors. Suriname's economicprospects for the medium term will depend on continued commitment toresponsible monetary and fiscal policies and to the introduction ofstructural reforms to liberalize markets and promote competition.The government of Ronald VENETIAAN, in his first term, implementedan austerity program, raised taxes, and attempted to controlspending. Economic policies are likely to remain the same duringVENETIAAN's second term. Prospects for local onshore oil productionare good, as a drilling program is underway. Offshore oil drillingwas given a boost in 2004 when the State Oil Company (Staatsolie)signed exploration agreements with Repsol, Mearsk, and Occidental.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$2.893 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$1.3 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:5% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$6,600 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 13% industry: 22% services: 65% (2001)
Labor force: 156,700 (2004)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 8% industry: 14% services: 78%
Unemployment rate:9.5% (2004)
Population below poverty line:70% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):9.5% (2005 est.)
Budget:revenues: $392.6 millionexpenditures: $425.9 million (2004)
Agriculture - products:paddy rice, bananas, palm kernels, coconuts, plantains, peanuts;beef, chickens; shrimp; forest products
Industries:bauxite and gold mining, alumina production; oil, lumbering, foodprocessing, fishing
Industrial production growth rate:6.5% (1994 est.)
Electricity - production:2.014 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 25.2% hydro: 74.8% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:1.873 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2003)
Oil - production:12,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:14,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports:1,370 bbl/day (2003)
Oil - imports:1,644 bbl/day (2003)
Oil - proved reserves:150 million bbl (2005)
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:0 cu m (2005)
Exports:$881 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:alumina, crude oil, lumber, shrimp and fish, rice, bananas
Exports - partners:Norway 23.5%, US 16.5%, Canada 16.1%, Belgium 9.7%, France 7.9%,UAE 7.3% (2005)
Imports:$750 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs, cotton, consumer goods
Imports - partners:US 29.3%, Netherlands 17.5%, Trinidad and Tobago 12.7%, China 6.5%,Japan 5.2% (2005)
Debt - external:$504.3 million (2005 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$46 million Netherlands provided $37 million for project andprogram assistance, European Development Fund $4 million, Belgium $2million (2003)
Currency (code):Surinam dollar (SRD)
Currency code:SRG
Exchange rates:Surinamese dollars per US dollar - 2.7317 (2005), Surinameseguilders per US dollar - 2.7336 (2004), 2.6013 (2003), 2.3468(2002), 2.1785 (2001)note: during 1998, the exchange rate splintered into four distinctrates; in January 1999 the government floated the guilder, butsubsequently fixed it when the black-market rate plunged; in January2004, the government introduced the Surinamese dollar as replacementfor the guilder, tied to a US dollar-dominated currency basket
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Suriname
Telephones - main lines in use:81,100 (2004)
Telephones - mobile cellular:232,800 (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: international facilities are gooddomestic: microwave radio relay networkinternational: country code - 597; satellite earth stations - 2Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 4, FM 13, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:300,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:3 (plus seven repeaters) (2000)
Televisions:63,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.sr
Internet hosts:126 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):2 (2000)
Internet users:30,000 (2005)
Transportation Suriname
Airports: 47 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 5 over 3,047 m: 1 under 914 m: 4 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 42 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 36 (2006)
Pipelines: oil 51 km (2006)
Roadways: total: 4,492 km paved: 1,168 km unpaved: 3,324 km (2002)
Waterways:1,200 km (most navigable by ships with drafts up to 7 m) (2005)
Merchant marine:total: 1 ship (1000 GRT or over) 1,078 GRT/1,214 DWTby type: cargo 1 (2006)
Ports and terminals:Paramaribo
Military Suriname
Military branches:National Army, Naval Element, Air Wing (2006)
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age (est.); no conscription
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 111,582females age 18-49: 103,769 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 77,793females age 18-49: 72,943 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$7.5 million (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:0.7% (2003 est.)
Transnational Issues Suriname
Disputes - international:area claimed by French Guiana between Riviere Litani and RiviereMarouini (both headwaters of the Lawa); Suriname claims a triangleof land between the New and Kutari/Koetari rivers in a historicdispute over the headwaters of the Courantyne; Guyana seeks UnitedNations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) arbitration toresolve the long-standing dispute with Suriname over the axis of theterritorial sea boundary in potentially oil-rich waters
Illicit drugs:growing transshipment point for South American drugs destined forEurope via the Netherlands and Brazil; transshipment point forarms-for-drugs dealing
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
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@Svalbard
Introduction Svalbard
Background:First discovered by the Norwegians in the 12th century, the islandsserved as an international whaling base during the 17th and 18thcenturies. Norway's sovereignty was recognized in 1920; five yearslater it officially took over the territory.
Geography Svalbard
Location:Northern Europe, islands between the Arctic Ocean, Barents Sea,Greenland Sea, and Norwegian Sea, north of Norway
Geographic coordinates:78 00 N, 20 00 E
Map references:Arctic Region
Area:total: 61,020 sq kmland: 61,020 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmnote: includes Spitsbergen and Bjornoya (Bear Island)
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than West Virginia
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:3,587 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 4 nmexclusive fishing zone: 200 nm unilaterally claimed by Norway butnot recognized by Russia
Climate:arctic, tempered by warm North Atlantic Current; cool summers, coldwinters; North Atlantic Current flows along west and north coasts ofSpitsbergen, keeping water open and navigable most of the year
Terrain:wild, rugged mountains; much of high land ice covered; west coastclear of ice about one-half of the year; fjords along west and northcoasts
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Arctic Ocean 0 m highest point: Newtontoppen 1,717 m
Natural resources:coal, iron ore, copper, zinc, phosphate, wildlife, fish
Land use:arable land: 0%permanent crops: 0%other: 100% (no trees, and the only bushes are crowberry andcloudberry) (2005)
Irrigated land:NA
Natural hazards:ice floes often block the entrance to Bellsund (a transit point forcoal export) on the west coast and occasionally make parts of thenortheastern coast inaccessible to maritime traffic
Environment - current issues:NA
Geography - note:northernmost part of the Kingdom of Norway; consists of nine mainislands; glaciers and snowfields cover 60% of the total area; siteof future seed repository under construction by the Global CropDiversity Trust and the Norwegian Government
People Svalbard
Population: 2,701 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:-0.02% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:NA births/1,000 population
Death rate:NA deaths/1,000 population
Net migration rate:NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
Sex ratio:NA
Infant mortality rate:total: NAmale: NAfemale: NA
Life expectancy at birth:total population: NAmale: NAfemale: NA
Total fertility rate:NA
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0% (2001)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:0 (2001)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:0 (2001)
Ethnic groups:Norwegian 55.4%, Russian and Ukrainian 44.3%, other 0.3% (1998)
Languages:Norwegian, Russian
Literacy:NA
Government Svalbard
Country name:conventional long form: noneconventional short form: Svalbard (sometimes referred to asSpitzbergen)
Dependency status:territory of Norway; administered by the Polar Department of theMinistry of Justice, through a governor (sysselmann) residing inLongyearbyen, Spitsbergen; by treaty (9 February 1920) sovereigntywas awarded to Norway
Government type:NA
Capital:name: Longyearbyengeographic coordinates: 78 13 N, 15 33 Etime difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends lastSunday in October
Independence:none (territory of Norway)
Legal system:NA
Executive branch:chief of state: King HARALD V of Norway (since 17 January 1991)head of government: Governor Odd Olsen INGERO (since 8 June 2001)and Assistant Governor Rune Baard HANSEN (since NA)elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor and assistantgovernor responsible to the Polar Department of the Ministry ofJustice
International organization participation:none
Flag description:the flag of Norway is used
Economy Svalbard
Economy - overview:Coal mining is the major economic activity on Svalbard. The treatyof 9 February 1920 gives the 41 signatories equal rights to exploitmineral deposits, subject to Norwegian regulation. Although US, UK,Dutch, and Swedish coal companies have mined in the past, the onlycompanies still mining are Norwegian and Russian. The settlements onSvalbard are essentially company towns. The Norwegian state-ownedcoal company employs nearly 60% of the Norwegian population on theisland, runs many of the local services, and provides most of thelocal infrastructure. There is also some hunting of seal, reindeer,and fox.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$NA
GDP - real growth rate:NA%
Labor force:NA
Budget:revenues: $11.5 millionexpenditures: $11.5 million; including capital expenditures of $NA(1998 est.)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 57.9984% hydro: 42.0016% nuclear: 0% other: 0%
Exports:$NA
Imports:$NA
Economic aid - recipient:$8.2 million from Norway (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)
Communications Svalbard
Telephones - main lines in use:NA
Telephones - mobile cellular:NA
Telephone system:general assessment: probably adequatedomestic: local telephone serviceinternational: country code - 47-790; satellite earth station - 1 ofunknown type (for communication with Norwegian mainland only)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 1, FM 1 (plus 2 repeaters), shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:NA
Television broadcast stations:NA
Televisions:NA
Internet country code:.sj
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):13 (Svalbard and Jan Mayen) (2000)
Internet users:NA
Transportation Svalbard
Airports:4 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 21,524 to 2,437 m: 1914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 2under 914 m: 2 (2006)
Ports and terminals:Barentsburg, Longyearbyen, Ny-Alesund, Pyramiden
Military Svalbard
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$5.501 billion
Military - note:demilitarized by treaty on 9 February 1920
Transnational Issues Svalbard
Disputes - international: despite recent discussions, Russia and Norway dispute their maritime limits in the Barents Sea and Russia's fishing rights beyond Svalbard's territorial limits within the Svalbard Treaty zone
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@Swaziland
Introduction Swaziland
Background:Autonomy for the Swazis of southern Africa was guaranteed by theBritish in the late 19th century; independence was granted in 1968.Student and labor unrest during the 1990s pressured the monarchy(one of the oldest on the continent) to grudgingly allow politicalreform and greater democracy. Swaziland recently surpassed Botswanaas the country with the world's highest known rates of HIV/AIDSinfection.
Geography Swaziland
Location:Southern Africa, between Mozambique and South Africa
Geographic coordinates:26 30 S, 31 30 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 17,363 sq kmland: 17,203 sq kmwater: 160 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries: total: 535 km border countries: Mozambique 105 km, South Africa 430 km
Coastline:0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:none (landlocked)
Climate:varies from tropical to near temperate
Terrain:mostly mountains and hills; some moderately sloping plains
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Great Usutu River 21 mhighest point: Emlembe 1,862 m
Natural resources:asbestos, coal, clay, cassiterite, hydropower, forests, small goldand diamond deposits, quarry stone, and talc
Land use: arable land: 10.25% permanent crops: 0.81% other: 88.94% (2005)
Irrigated land:500 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:drought
Environment - current issues:limited supplies of potable water; wildlife populations beingdepleted because of excessive hunting; overgrazing; soildegradation; soil erosion
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Ozone Layer Protectionsigned, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:landlocked; almost completely surrounded by South Africa
People Swaziland
Population:1,136,334note: 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: 40.7% (male 233,169/female 229,103)15-64 years: 55.8% (male 303,260/female 330,460)65 years and over: 3.6% (male 16,071/female 24,271) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 18.5 yearsmale: 17.8 yearsfemale: 19.2 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:-0.23% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:27.41 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:29.74 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: 1.02 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 71.85 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 75.25 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 68.34 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 32.62 yearsmale: 32.1 yearsfemale: 33.17 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:3.53 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:38.8% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:220,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:17,000 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Swazi(s)adjective: Swazi
Ethnic groups:African 97%, European 3%
Religions:Zionist 40% (a blend of Christianity and indigenous ancestralworship), Roman Catholic 20%, Muslim 10%, Anglican, Bahai,Methodist, Mormon, Jewish and other 30%
Languages:English (official, government business conducted in English),siSwati (official)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 81.6%male: 82.6%female: 80.8% (2003 est.)
Government Swaziland
Country name:conventional long form: Kingdom of Swazilandconventional short form: Swazilandlocal long form: Umbuso weSwatinilocal short form: eSwatini
Government type:monarchy
Capital:name: Mbabanegeographic coordinates: 26 18 S, 31 06 Etime difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)note: Lobamba (royal and legislative capital)
Administrative divisions:4 districts; Hhohho, Lubombo, Manzini, Shiselweni
Independence:6 September 1968 (from UK)
National holiday:Independence Day, 6 September (1968)
Constitution:the first constitution was signed into law in July 2005 and isscheduled to be implemented in January 2006
Legal system:based on South African Roman-Dutch law in statutory courts andSwazi traditional law and custom in traditional courts; acceptscompulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:18 years of age
Executive branch:chief of state: King MSWATI III (since 25 April 1986)head of government: Prime Minister Absolom Themba DLAMINI (since 14November 2003)cabinet: Cabinet recommended by the prime minister and confirmed bythe monarchelections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister appointedby the monarch
Legislative branch:bicameral Parliament or Libandla, an advisory body, consists of theSenate (30 seats - 10 appointed by the House of Assembly and 20appointed by the monarch; members serve five-year terms) and theHouse of Assembly (65 seats - 10 appointed by the monarch and 55elected by popular vote; members serve five-year terms)elections: House of Assembly - last held 18 October 2003 (next to beheld October 2008)election results: House of Assembly - balloting is done on anonparty basis; candidates for election are nominated by the localcouncil of each constituency and for each constituency the threecandidates with the most votes in the first round of voting arenarrowed to a single winner by a second round
Judicial branch:High Court; Court of Appeal; judges for both courts are appointedby the monarch
Political parties and leaders:political parties are banned by the government under an emergencydecree that will be revoked when the new constitution takes effect(January 2006)- the following are considered political associations;Imbokodvo National Movement or INM; Ngwane National LiberatoryCongress or NNLC [Obed DLAMINI, president]; People's UnitedDemocratic Movement or PUDEMO [Mario MASUKU, president]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACP, AfDB, AU, C, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU,MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PCA, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Ephraim Mandla HLOPHEchancery: 1712 New Hampshire Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20009telephone: [1] (202) 234-5002FAX: [1] (202) 234-8254
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Lewis LUCKE embassy: Central Bank Building, Mahlokahla Street, Mbabane mailing address: P. O. Box 199, Mbabane telephone: [268] 404-6441 through 404-6445 FAX: [268] 404-5959
Flag description:three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (triple width), and blue;the red band is edged in yellow; centered in the red band is a largeblack and white shield covering two spears and a staff decoratedwith feather tassels, all placed horizontally
Economy Swaziland
Economy - overview:In this small, landlocked economy, subsistence agriculture occupiesmore than 80% of the population. The manufacturing sector hasdiversified since the mid-1980s. Sugar and wood pulp remainimportant foreign exchange earners. Mining has declined inimportance in recent years with only coal and quarry stone minesremaining active. Surrounded by South Africa, except for a shortborder with Mozambique, Swaziland is heavily dependent on SouthAfrica from which it receives about nine-tenths of its imports andto which it sends nearly two-thirds of its exports. Customs dutiesfrom the Southern African Customs Union and worker remittances fromSouth Africa substantially supplement domestically earned income.The government is trying to improve the atmosphere for foreigninvestment. Overgrazing, soil depletion, drought, and sometimesfloods persist as problems for the future. More than one-fourth ofthe population needed emergency food aid in 2004-05 because ofdrought, and nearly two-fifths of the adult population has beeninfected by HIV/AIDS.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$5.68 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$2.117 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:1.8% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$5,000 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 11.9% industry: 51.5% services: 36.6% (2005 est.)
Labor force: 155,700 (2003)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Unemployment rate:40% (2005 est.)
Population below poverty line:69% (2005)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: 1%highest 10%: 50.2% (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):4% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):10.6% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:revenues: $805.6 millionexpenditures: $957.1 million; including capital expenditures of $147million (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:sugarcane, cotton, corn, tobacco, rice, citrus, pineapples,sorghum, peanuts; cattle, goats, sheep
Industries:mining (coal, raw asbestos), wood pulp, sugar, soft drinkconcentrates, textile and apparel
Industrial production growth rate:3.7% (FY95/96)
Electricity - production:392 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 58% hydro: 42% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:1.161 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports: 821.4 million kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa (2004)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:3,500 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.)
Current account balance:$7 million (2005 est.)
Exports:$1.991 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:soft drink concentrates, sugar, wood pulp, cotton yarn,refrigerators, citrus and canned fruit
Exports - partners:South Africa 59.7%, EU 8.8%, US 8.8%, Mozambique 6.2% (2004)
Imports:$2.149 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:motor vehicles, machinery, transport equipment, foodstuffs,petroleum products, chemicals
Imports - partners:South Africa 95.6%, EU 0.9%, Japan 0.9%, Singapore 0.3% (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$311 million (2005 est.)
Debt - external:$357 million (2003 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$104 million (2001)
Currency (code):lilangeni (SZL)
Currency code:SZL
Exchange rates:emalangeni per US dollar - 6.3593 (2005), 6.4597 (2004), 7.5648(2003), 10.5407 (2002), 8.6092 (2001)
Fiscal year:1 April - 31 March
Communications Swaziland
Telephones - main lines in use:35,000 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:200,000 (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: a somewhat modern but not an advanced systemdomestic: system consists of carrier-equipped, open-wire lines andlow-capacity, microwave radio relayinternational: country code - 268; satellite earth station - 1Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 3, FM 2 plus 4 repeaters, shortwave 3 (2004)
Radios:170,000 (1999)
Television broadcast stations:12 (includes 7 relay stations) (2004)
Televisions:23,000 (2000)
Internet country code:.sz
Internet hosts:2,472 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):5 (2002)
Internet users:36,000 (2005)
Transportation Swaziland
Airports: 18 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 17 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 10 (2006)
Railways: total: 301 km narrow gauge: 301 km 1.067-m gauge (2005)
Roadways: total: 3,594 km paved: 1,078 km unpaved: 2,516 km (2002)
Military Swaziland
Military branches:Umbutfo Swaziland Defense Force (USDF): Ground Force (includes airwing), Royal Swaziland Police Force (RSPF) (2005)
Military service age and obligation:18-30 years of age for voluntary military service; both sexes areeligible for military service (2005)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 227,617 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 89,609 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$41.6 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.4% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Swaziland
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
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@Sweden
Introduction Sweden
Background:A military power during the 17th century, Sweden has notparticipated in any war in almost two centuries. An armed neutralitywas preserved in both World Wars. Sweden's long-successful economicformula of a capitalist system interlarded with substantial welfareelements was challenged in the 1990s by high unemployment and in2000-02 by the global economic downturn, but fiscal discipline overthe past several years has allowed the country to weather economicvagaries. Indecision over the country's role in the political andeconomic integration of Europe delayed Sweden's entry into the EUuntil 1995, and waived the introduction of the euro in 1999.
Geography Sweden
Location:Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia,Kattegat, and Skagerrak, between Finland and Norway
Geographic coordinates:62 00 N, 15 00 E
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 449,964 sq kmland: 410,934 sq kmwater: 39,030 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly larger than California
Land boundaries: total: 2,233 km border countries: Finland 614 km, Norway 1,619 km
Coastline:3,218 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nm (adjustments made to return a portion ofstraits to high seas)exclusive economic zone: agreed boundaries or midlinescontinental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:temperate in south with cold, cloudy winters and cool, partlycloudy summers; subarctic in north
Terrain:mostly flat or gently rolling lowlands; mountains in west
Elevation extremes:lowest point: reclaimed bay of Lake Hammarsjon, near Kristianstad-2.41 mhighest point: Kebnekaise 2,111 m
Natural resources:iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, gold, silver, tungsten, uranium,arsenic, feldspar, timber, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 5.93% permanent crops: 0.01% other: 94.06% (2005)
Irrigated land:1,150 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:ice floes in the surrounding waters, especially in the Gulf ofBothnia, can interfere with maritime traffic
Environment - current issues:acid rain damage to soils and lakes; pollution of the North Sea andthe Baltic Sea
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, AirPollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85,Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources,Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, EnvironmentalModification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, TropicalTimber 94, Wetlands, Whalingsigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:strategic location along Danish Straits linking Baltic and NorthSeas
People Sweden
Population:9,016,596 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 16.7% (male 775,433/female 732,773)15-64 years: 65.7% (male 3,001,928/female 2,918,242)65 years and over: 17.6% (male 689,756/female 898,464) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 40.9 yearsmale: 39.8 yearsfemale: 42 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:0.16% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:10.27 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:10.31 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:1.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.06 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 2.76 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 2.92 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 2.59 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 80.51 yearsmale: 78.29 yearsfemale: 82.87 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.66 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:3,600 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 100 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Swede(s)adjective: Swedish
Ethnic groups:indigenous population: Swedes with Finnish and Sami minorities;foreign-born or first-generation immigrants: Finns, Yugoslavs,Danes, Norwegians, Greeks, Turks
Religions:Lutheran 87%, Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Baptist, Muslim, Jewish,Buddhist
Languages:Swedish, small Sami- and Finnish-speaking minorities
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99%male: 99%female: 99% (2003 est.)
Government Sweden
Country name:conventional long form: Kingdom of Swedenconventional short form: Swedenlocal long form: Konungariket Sverigelocal short form: Sverige
Government type:constitutional monarchy
Capital:name: Stockholmgeographic coordinates: 59 20 N, 18 03 Etime difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends lastSunday in October
Administrative divisions:21 counties (lan, singular and plural); Blekinge, Dalarnas,Gavleborgs, Gotlands, Hallands, Jamtlands, Jonkopings, Kalmar,Kronobergs, Norrbottens, Orebro, Ostergotlands, Skane,Sodermanlands, Stockholms, Uppsala, Varmlands, Vasterbottens,Vasternorrlands, Vastmanlands, Vastra Gotalands
Independence:6 June 1523 (Gustav VASA elected king)
National holiday:Flag Day, 6 June
Constitution:1 January 1975
Legal system:civil law system influenced by customary law; accepts compulsoryICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: King CARL XVI GUSTAF (since 19 September 1973);Heir Apparent Princess VICTORIA Ingrid Alice Desiree, daughter ofthe monarch (born 14 July 1977)head of government: Prime Minister Fredrik REINFELDT (since 5October 2006)cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime ministerelections: the monarchy is hereditary; following legislativeelections, the prime minister is elected by the parliament; electionlast held 17 September 2006 (next to be held in September 2010)election results: Fredrik REINFELDT elected prime minister with 175out of 349 votes
Legislative branch:unicameral Parliament or Riksdag (349 seats; members are elected bypopular vote on a proportional representation basis to servefour-year terms)elections: last held 17 September 2006 (next to be held September2010)election results: percent of vote by party - Social Democrats 37.2%,Moderates 27.8%, Center Party 8.3%, People's Party 8.0%, ChristianDemocrats 6.9%, Left Party 6.3%, Greens 5.4%; seats by party -Social Democrats 130, Moderates 97, Center Party 29, People's Party28, Christian Democrats 24, Left Party 22, Greens 19
Judicial branch:Supreme Court or Hogsta Domstolen (judges are appointed by theprime minister and the cabinet)
Political parties and leaders:Center Party [Maud OLOFSSON]; Christian Democratic Party [GoranHAGGLUND]; Environment Party the Greens [no formal leader but partyspokespersons are Maria WETTERSTRAND and Peter ERIKSSON]; Left Partyor V (formerly Communist) [Lars OHLY]; Moderate Party (conservative)[Fredrik REINFELDT]; People's Party [Lars LEIJONBORG]; SocialDemocratic Party [Goran PERSSON]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:AfDB, Arctic Council, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, CERN,EAPC, EBRD, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 6, G- 9, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD,ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MONUC, NAM(guest), NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, ParisClub, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIL,UNMIS, UNMOGIP, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WEU (observer),WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Gunnar LUND chancery: 902 30th Street NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1] (202) 467-2600 FAX: [1] (202) 467-2699 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York