Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Michael M. WOOD embassy: Dag Hammarskjolds VAG 31, SE-11589 Stockholm mailing address: American Embassy Stockholm, US Department of State, 5750 Stockholm Place, Washington, DC 20521-5750 (pouch) telephone: [46] (08) 783 53 00 FAX: [46] (08) 661 19 64
Flag description:blue with a golden yellow cross extending to the edges of the flag;the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in thestyle of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)
Economy Sweden
Economy - overview:Aided by peace and neutrality for the whole of the 20th century,Sweden has achieved an enviable standard of living under a mixedsystem of high-tech capitalism and extensive welfare benefits. Ithas a modern distribution system, excellent internal and externalcommunications, and a skilled labor force. Timber, hydropower, andiron ore constitute the resource base of an economy heavily orientedtoward foreign trade. Privately owned firms account for about 90% ofindustrial output, of which the engineering sector accounts for 50%of output and exports. Agriculture accounts for only 2% of GDP andof jobs. The government's commitment to fiscal discipline resultedin a substantial budgetary surplus in 2001, which was cut by morethan half in 2002, due to the global economic slowdown, decliningrevenue, and increased spending. The Swedish central bank (theRiksbank) focuses on price stability with its inflation target of2%. Growth remained sluggish in 2003, but picked up in 2004 and2005. Presumably because of generous sick-leave benefits, Swedishworkers report in sick more often than other Europeans. In September2003, Swedish voters turned down entry into the euro system,concerned about the impact on democracy and sovereignty.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$268.3 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$348.1 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:2.7% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$29,800 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 1.1% industry: 28.2% services: 70.7% (2005 est.)
Labor force: 4.49 million (2005 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 2% industry: 24% services: 74% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:5.8% (2005 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.7% highest 10%: 20.1% (1992)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:25 (2000)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):0.5% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):17% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:revenues: $210.5 billionexpenditures: $205.9 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA(2005 est.)
Public debt:50.4% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:barley, wheat, sugar beets; meat, milk
Industries:iron and steel, precision equipment (bearings, radio and telephoneparts, armaments), wood pulp and paper products, processed foods,motor vehicles
Industrial production growth rate:1.6% (2005 est.)
Electricity - production:127.9 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 4% hydro: 50.8% nuclear: 43% other: 2.3% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:131.8 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:11.5 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:24.3 billion kWh (2003)
Oil - production:2,441 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - consumption:346,100 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:203,700 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:553,100 bbl/day (2001)
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:980 million cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:968 million cu m (2001 est.)
Current account balance:$25.62 billion (2005 est.)
Exports:$126.6 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:machinery 35%, motor vehicles, paper products, pulp and wood, ironand steel products, chemicals
Exports - partners:US 10.6%, Germany 10.2%, Norway 8.7%, UK 7.3%, Denmark 6.5%,Finland 5.7%, France 4.9%, Netherlands 4.5%, Belgium 4.3% (2005)
Imports:$104.4 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, motorvehicles, iron and steel; foodstuffs, clothing
Imports - partners:Germany 17.5%, Denmark 8.9%, Norway 7.8%, UK 6.6%, Netherlands6.2%, Finland 5.8%, France 5% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$22.33 billion (2005 est.)
Debt - external:$516.1 billion (30 June 2005)
Economic aid - donor:ODA, $1.7 billion (1997)
Currency (code):Swedish krona (SEK)
Currency code:SEK
Exchange rates:Swedish kronor per US dollar - 7.4731 (2005), 7.3489 (2004), 8.0863(2003), 9.7371 (2002), 10.3291 (2001)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Sweden
Telephones - main lines in use:6.447 million (2004)
Telephones - mobile cellular:8.436 million (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: excellent domestic and internationalfacilities; automatic systemdomestic: coaxial and multiconductor cables carry most of the voicetraffic; parallel microwave radio relay systems carry someadditional telephone channelsinternational: country code - 46; 5 submarine coaxial cables;satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Eutelsat,and 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions); note - Swedenshares the Inmarsat earth station with the other Nordic countries(Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and Norway)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 1, FM 265, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:8.25 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:169 (plus 1,299 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:4.6 million (1997)
Internet country code:.se
Internet hosts:2,958,435 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):29 (2000)
Internet users:6.8 million (2005)
Transportation Sweden
Airports: 255 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 155 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 13 1,524 to 2,437 m: 80 914 to 1,523 m: 23 under 914 m: 36 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 100 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 91 (2006)
Heliports:2 (2006)
Pipelines:gas 798 km (2006)
Railways:total: 11,481 kmstandard gauge: 11,481 km 1.435-m gauge (9,400 km electrified) (2005)
Roadways:total: 424,981 kmpaved: 132,339 km (including 1,544 km of expressways)unpaved: 292,642 km (2003)
Waterways:2,052 km (2005)
Merchant marine:total: 198 ships (1000 GRT or over) 3,703,834 GRT/2,382,754 DWTby type: bulk carrier 8, cargo 28, chemical tanker 47, container 5,passenger 3, passenger/cargo 36, petroleum tanker 15, roll on/rolloff 31, specialized tanker 4, vehicle carrier 21foreign-owned: 37 (Belgium 2, Denmark 4, Finland 11, Germany 3,Italy 7, Japan 2, Norway 7, US 1)registered in other countries: 161 (Bahamas 6, Bermuda 14, CaymanIslands 9, Cook Islands 3, Cyprus 3, Denmark 1, France 2, FrenchSouthern and Antarctic Lands 9, Gibraltar 5, Isle of Man 1, Liberia8, Malta 3, Netherlands 26, Netherlands Antilles 5, Norway 28,Panama 5, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1, Singapore 12, UK 15,US 5) (2006)
Ports and terminals:Goteborg, Helsingborg, Karlshamn, Lulea, Malmo, Oxelosund,Stenungsund, Stockholm, Trelleborg
Military Sweden
Military branches:Swedish Armed Forces (Forsvarsmakten): Army (Armen), Royal SwedishNavy (Marinen), Swedish Air Force (Svenska Flygvapnet) (2006)
Military service age and obligation: 19 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 7-17 months depending on conscript role; after completing initial service, soldiers have a reserve commitment until age of 47 (2004)
Manpower available for military service:males age 19-49: 1,838,427females age 19-49: 1,774,659 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 19-49: 1,493,668females age 19-49: 1,441,257 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 58,724females age 19-49: 55,954 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$5.51 billion (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.5% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Sweden
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
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@Switzerland
Introduction Switzerland
Background:The Swiss Confederation was founded in 1291 as a defensive allianceamong three cantons. In succeeding years, other localities joinedthe original three. The Swiss Confederation secured its independencefrom the Holy Roman Empire in 1499. Switzerland's sovereignty andneutrality have long been honored by the major European powers, andthe country was not involved in either of the two World Wars. Thepolitical and economic integration of Europe over the past halfcentury, as well as Switzerland's role in many UN and internationalorganizations, has strengthened Switzerland's ties with itsneighbors. However, the country did not officially become a UNmember until 2002. Switzerland remains active in many UN andinternational organizations, but retains a strong commitment toneutrality.
Geography Switzerland
Location:Central Europe, east of France, north of Italy
Geographic coordinates:47 00 N, 8 00 E
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 41,290 sq kmland: 39,770 sq kmwater: 1,520 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey
Land boundaries:total: 1,852 kmborder countries: Austria 164 km, France 573 km, Italy 740 km,Liechtenstein 41 km, Germany 334 km
Coastline:0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:none (landlocked)
Climate:temperate, but varies with altitude; cold, cloudy, rainy/snowywinters; cool to warm, cloudy, humid summers with occasional showers
Terrain:mostly mountains (Alps in south, Jura in northwest) with a centralplateau of rolling hills, plains, and large lakes
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Lake Maggiore 195 mhighest point: Dufourspitze 4,634 m
Natural resources:hydropower potential, timber, salt
Land use: arable land: 9.91% permanent crops: 0.58% other: 89.51% (2005)
Irrigated land:250 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:avalanches, landslides, flash floods
Environment - current issues:air pollution from vehicle emissions and open-air burning; acidrain; water pollution from increased use of agriculturalfertilizers; loss of biodiversity
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 Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, EnvironmentalModification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine LifeConservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, TropicalTimber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whalingsigned, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:landlocked; crossroads of northern and southern Europe; along withsoutheastern France, northern Italy, and southwestern Austria, hasthe highest elevations in the Alps
People Switzerland
Population:7,523,934 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 16.3% (male 637,585/female 591,297)15-64 years: 68.1% (male 2,585,062/female 2,539,345)65 years and over: 15.6% (male 480,198/female 690,447) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 40.1 yearsmale: 39 yearsfemale: 41.1 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:0.43% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:9.71 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:8.49 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:3.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 4.34 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 4.84 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 3.81 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 80.51 yearsmale: 77.69 yearsfemale: 83.48 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.43 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.4% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:13,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 100 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Swiss (singular and plural)adjective: Swiss
Ethnic groups:German 65%, French 18%, Italian 10%, Romansch 1%, other 6%
Religions:Roman Catholic 41.8%, Protestant 35.3%, Orthodox 1.8%, otherChristian 0.4%, Muslim 4.3%, other 1%, unspecified 4.3%, none 11.1%(2000 census)
Languages:German (official) 63.7%, French (official) 20.4%, Italian(official) 6.5%, Serbo-Croatian 1.5%, Albanian 1.3%, Portuguese1.2%, Spanish 1.1%, English 1%, Romansch 0.5%, other 2.8% (2000census)note: German, French, Italian, and Romansch are all nationallanguages, but only the first three are official languages
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99%male: 99%female: 99% (2003 est.)
Government Switzerland
Country name:conventional long form: Swiss Confederationconventional short form: Switzerlandlocal long form: Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft (German);Confederation Suisse (French); Confederazione Svizzera (Italian)local short form: Schweiz (German); Suisse (French); Svizzera(Italian)
Government type:formally a confederation, but similar in structure to a federalrepublic
Capital:name: Berngeographic coordinates: 46 57 N, 7 26 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:26 cantons (cantons, singular - canton in French; cantoni, singular- cantone in Italian; kantone, singular - kanton in German); Aargau,Appenzell Ausser-Rhoden, Appenzell Inner-Rhoden, Basel-Landschaft,Basel-Stadt, Bern, Fribourg, Geneve, Glarus, Graubunden, Jura,Luzern, Neuchatel, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Sankt Gallen, Schaffhausen,Schwyz, Solothurn, Thurgau, Ticino, Uri, Valais, Vaud, Zug, Zurich
Independence:1 August 1291 (founding of the Swiss Confederation)
National holiday:Founding of the Swiss Confederation, 1 August (1291)
Constitution:revision of Constitution of 1874 approved by the Federal Parliament18 December 1998, adopted by referendum 18 April 1999, officiallyentered into force 1 January 2000
Legal system:civil law system influenced by customary law; judicial review oflegislative acts, except with respect to federal decrees of generalobligatory character; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, withreservations
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Moritz LEUENBERGER (since 8 January2006); Vice President Micheline CALMY-REY (since 8 January 2006);note - the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernmenthead of government: President Moritz LEUENBERGER (since 8 January2006); Vice President Micheline CALMY-REY (since 8 January 2006)cabinet: Federal Council or Bundesrat (in German), Conseil Federal(in French), Consiglio Federale (in Italian) elected by the FederalAssembly usually from among its own members for a four-year termelections: president and vice president elected by the FederalAssembly from among the members of the Federal Council for aone-year term (they may not serve consecutive terms); election lastheld 7 December 2005 (next to be held December 2006)election results: Moritz LUENBERGER elected president; percent ofFederal Assembly vote - NA; Micheline CALMY-REY elected vicepresident; percent of legislative vote - NA
Legislative branch:bicameral Federal Assembly or Bundesversammlung (in German),Assemblee Federale (in French), Assemblea Federale (in Italian)consists of the Council of States or Standerat (in German), Conseildes Etats (in French), Consiglio degli Stati (in Italian) (46 seats- consists of two representatives from each canton and one from eachhalf canton; members serve four-year terms) and the National Councilor Nationalrat (in German), Conseil National (in French), ConsiglioNazionale (in Italian) (200 seats - members are elected by popularvote on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-yearterms)elections: Council of States - last held in most cantons 19 October2003 (each canton determines when the next election will be held);National Council - last held 19 October 2003 (next to be heldOctober 2007)election results: Council of States - percent of vote by party -NA%; seats by party - CVP 15, FDP 14, SVP 8, SPS 6, other 3;National Council - percent of vote by party - SVP 26.6%, SPS 23.3%,FDP 17.3%, CVP 14.4%, Greens 7.4%, other small parties all under 5%;seats by party - SVP 55, SPS 54, FDP 36, CVP 28, Green Party 13,other small parties 14
Judicial branch:Federal Supreme Court (judges elected for six-year terms by theFederal Assembly)
Political parties and leaders:Green Party (Grune Partei der Schweiz or Grune, Parti EcologisteSuisse or Les Verts, Partito Ecologista Svizzero or I Verdi, PartidaEcologica Svizra or La Verda) [Ruth GENNER]; Christian DemocraticPeople's Party (Christichdemokratische Volkspartei der Schweiz orCVP, Parti Democrate-Chretien Suisse or PDC, PartitoDemocratico-Cristiano Popolare Svizzero or PDC, PartidaCristiandemocratica dalla Svizra or PCD) [Doris LEUTHARD,president]; Radical Free Democratic Party (Freisinnig-DemokratischePartei der Schweiz or FDP, Parti Radical-Democratique Suisse or PRD,Partitio Liberal-Radicale Svizzero or PLR) [MarianneKLEINER-SCHLAEPFER, president]; Social Democratic Party(Sozialdemokratische Partei der Schweiz or SPS, Parti SocialistSuisse or PSS, Partito Socialista Svizzero or PSS, PartidaSocialdemocratica de la Svizra or PSS) [Hans-Juerg FEHR, president];Swiss People's Party (Schweizerische Volkspartei or SVP, UnionDemocratique du Centre or UDC, Unione Democratica de Centro or UDC,Uniun Democratica dal Center or UDC) [Ueli MAURER, president]; andother minor parties
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACCT, AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EFTA,ESA, FAO, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA,IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO,ITU, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MONUC, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS(observer), OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WCL,WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Urs ZISWILERchancery: 2900 Cathedral Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone: [1] (202) 745-7900FAX: [1] (202) 387-2564consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, NewYork, San Franciscoconsulate(s): Boston
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Peter R. CONEWAY embassy: Jubilaumsstrasse 93, CH-3005 Bern mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [41] (031) 357 70 11 FAX: [41] (031) 357 73 44
Flag description:red square with a bold, equilateral white cross in the center thatdoes not extend to the edges of the flag
Economy Switzerland
Economy - overview:Switzerland is a peaceful, prosperous, and stable modern marketeconomy with low unemployment, a highly skilled labor force, and aper capita GDP larger than that of the big Western Europeaneconomies. The Swiss in recent years have brought their economicpractices largely into conformity with the EU's to enhance theirinternational competitiveness. Switzerland remains a safehaven forinvestors, because it has maintained a degree of bank secrecy andhas kept up the franc's long-term external value. Reflecting theanemic economic conditions of Europe, GDP growth dropped in 2001 toabout 0.8%, to 0.2% in 2002, and to -0.3% in 2003, with a small riseto 1.8% in 2004-05. Even so, unemployment has remained at less thanhalf the EU average.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$240.9 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$367 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:1.9% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$32,200 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 1.5% industry: 34% services: 64.5% (2003 est.)
Labor force: 3.8 million (2005 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 4.6% industry: 26.3% services: 69.1% (1998)
Unemployment rate:3.8% (2005 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.6% highest 10%: 25.2% (1992)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:33.1 (1992)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):1.2% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):21.3% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:revenues: $138.1 billionexpenditures: $143.6 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA(2005 est.)
Public debt:52% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:grains, fruits, vegetables; meat, eggs
Industries:machinery, chemicals, watches, textiles, precision instruments
Industrial production growth rate:3% (2005 est.)
Electricity - production:63.4 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 1.3% hydro: 59.5% nuclear: 37.1% other: 2% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:55.86 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:33.2 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:30.1 billion kWh (2003)
Oil - production:1,950 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - consumption:258,900 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:10,420 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:289,500 bbl/day (2001)
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:3.209 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:3.093 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Current account balance:$58.24 billion (2005 est.)
Exports:$148.6 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:machinery, chemicals, metals, watches, agricultural products
Exports - partners:Germany 19.4%, US 10.9%, Italy 9.1%, France 8.7%, UK 5.4%, Spain4.1% (2005)
Imports:$135 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery, chemicals, vehicles, metals; agricultural products,textiles
Imports - partners:Germany 31.6%, Italy 10.5%, France 10%, US 5.6%, Netherlands 4.8%,Austria 4.6%, UK 4.4% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$57.64 billion (2005 est.)
Debt - external:$856 billion (30 June 2005)
Economic aid - donor:ODA, $1.1 billion (1995)
Currency (code):Swiss franc (CHF)
Currency code:CHF
Exchange rates:Swiss francs per US dollar - 1.2452 (2005), 1.2435 (2004), 1.3467(2003), 1.5586 (2002), 1.6876 (2001)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Switzerland
Telephones - main lines in use:5.123 million (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:6.847 million (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: excellent domestic and international servicesdomestic: extensive cable and microwave radio relay networksinternational: country code - 41; satellite earth stations - 2Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 4, FM 113 (plus many low power stations), shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios:7.1 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:115 (plus 1,919 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:3.31 million (1997)
Internet country code:.ch
Internet hosts:2,442,659 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):44 (Switzerland and Liechtenstein) (2000)
Internet users:5,097,822 (2005)
Transportation Switzerland
Airports: 65 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 42 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 11 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 16 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 23 under 914 m: 23 (2006)
Heliports:2 (2006)
Pipelines:gas 1,831 km; oil 94 km; refined products 7 km (2006)
Railways:total: 4,583 kmstandard gauge: 3,234 km 1.435-m gauge (3,223 km electrified)narrow gauge: 1,339 km 1.000-m gauge (1,338 km electrified); 10 km0.800-m gauge (10 km electrified) (2005)
Roadways:total: 71,297 kmpaved: 71,297 km (including 1,726 of expressways) (2004)
Waterways:65 km (Rhine River between Basel-Rheinfelden andSchaffhausen-Bodensee) (2003)
Merchant marine:total: 27 ships (1000 GRT or over) 492,434 GRT/810,559 DWTby type: bulk carrier 9, cargo 10, chemical tanker 3, container 4,specialized tanker 1foreign-owned: 2 (Monaco 2)registered in other countries: 320 (Antigua and Barbuda 4, Bahamas2, Belize 1, Bermuda 2, Cyprus 4, France 2, French Southern andAntarctic Lands 1, Germany 1, Indonesia 3, Liberia 7, Malta 21,Marshall Islands 13, Mauritius 2, Morocco 1, Panama 226, Portugal 3,Russia 7, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 13, Tonga 1, Turkey 1, UK3, Vanuatu 2) (2006)
Ports and terminals:Basel
Military Switzerland
Military branches:Swiss Armed Forces: Land Forces, Swiss Air Force (SchweizerLuftwaffe); Switzerland has no navy, but maintains a fleet ofmilitary patrol boats to patrol Swiss borders (2006)
Military service age and obligation: the Swiss Constitution states that "every Swiss male is obliged to do military service"; every Swiss male has to serve for at least 260 days in the armed forces; 19 years of age for compulsory military service; 17 years of age for voluntary military service; conscripts receive 15 weeks of compulsory training, followed by 10 intermittent recalls for training over the next 22 years; women are accepted on a voluntary basis but are not drafted (2005)
Manpower available for military service:males age 19-49: 1,707,694females age 19-49: 1,662,099 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 19-49: 1,375,889females age 19-49: 1,342,945 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 46,319females age 19-49: 43,829 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$2.548 billion (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1% (FY01)
Transnational Issues Switzerland
Disputes - international:none
Illicit drugs:a major international financial center vulnerable to the layeringand integration stages of money laundering; despite significantlegislation and reporting requirements, secrecy rules persist andnonresidents are permitted to conduct business through offshoreentities and various intermediaries; transit country for andconsumer of South American cocaine and Southwest Asian heroin
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
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@Syria
Introduction Syria
Background:Following the breakup of the Ottoman Empire during World War I,France administered Syria until its independence in 1946. Thecountry lacked political stability, however, and experienced aseries of military coups during its first decades. Syria united withEgypt in February 1958 to form the United Arab Republic, but inSeptember 1961 the two entities separated and the Syrian ArabRepublic was reestablished. In November 1970, Hafiz al-ASAD, amember of the Socialist Ba'th Party and the minority Alawite sect,seized power in a bloodless coup and brought political stability tothe country. In the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, Syria lost the GolanHeights to Israel, and over the past decade Syria and Israel haveheld occasional peace talks over its return. Following the death ofPresident al-ASAD in July 2000, his son, Bashar al-ASAD, wasapproved as president by popular referendum. Syrian troops -stationed in Lebanon since 1976 in an ostensible peacekeeping role -were withdrawn in April of 2005.
Geography Syria
Location:Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Lebanon andTurkey
Geographic coordinates:35 00 N, 38 00 E
Map references:Middle East
Area:total: 185,180 sq kmland: 184,050 sq kmwater: 1,130 sq kmnote: includes 1,295 sq km of Israeli-occupied territory
Area - comparative:slightly larger than North Dakota
Land boundaries:total: 2,253 kmborder countries: Iraq 605 km, Israel 76 km, Jordan 375 km, Lebanon375 km, Turkey 822 km
Coastline:193 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmcontiguous zone: 41 nm
Climate:mostly desert; hot, dry, sunny summers (June to August) and mild,rainy winters (December to February) along coast; cold weather withsnow or sleet periodically in Damascus
Terrain:primarily semiarid and desert plateau; narrow coastal plain;mountains in west
Elevation extremes:lowest point: unnamed location near Lake Tiberias -200 mhighest point: Mount Hermon 2,814 m
Natural resources:petroleum, phosphates, chrome and manganese ores, asphalt, ironore, rock salt, marble, gypsum, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 24.8% permanent crops: 4.47% other: 70.73% (2005)
Irrigated land:13,330 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:dust storms, sandstorms
Environment - current issues:deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; waterpollution from raw sewage and petroleum refining wastes; inadequatepotable water
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
Geography - note:there are 42 Israeli settlements and civilian land use sites in theIsraeli-occupied Golan Heights (August 2005 est.)
People Syria
Population:18,881,361note: in addition, about 40,000 people live in the Israeli-occupiedGolan Heights - 20,000 Arabs (18,000 Druze and 2,000 Alawites) andabout 20,000 Israeli settlers (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 37% (male 3,592,915/female 3,384,722)15-64 years: 59.7% (male 5,779,257/female 5,500,887)65 years and over: 3.3% (male 296,070/female 327,510) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 20.7 yearsmale: 20.6 yearsfemale: 20.9 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:2.3% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:27.76 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:4.81 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:0 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: 1.05 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 28.61 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 28.85 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 28.36 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 70.32 yearsmale: 69.01 yearsfemale: 71.7 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:3.4 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:less than 500 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 200 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Syrian(s)adjective: Syrian
Ethnic groups:Arab 90.3%, Kurds, Armenians, and other 9.7%
Religions:Sunni Muslim 74%, Alawite, Druze, and other Muslim sects 16%,Christian (various sects) 10%, Jewish (tiny communities in Damascus,Al Qamishli, and Aleppo)
Languages:Arabic (official); Kurdish, Armenian, Aramaic, Circassian widelyunderstood; French, English somewhat understood
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 76.9%male: 89.7%female: 64% (2003 est.)
Government Syria
Country name:conventional long form: Syrian Arab Republicconventional short form: Syrialocal long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Arabiyah as Suriyahlocal short form: Suriyahformer: United Arab Republic (with Egypt)
Government type:republic under an authoritarian, military-dominated regime
Capital:name: Damascusgeographic coordinates: 33 30 N, 36 18 Etime difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)daylight saving time: +1hr, begins 1 April; ends 30 September
Administrative divisions:14 provinces (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Hasakah, AlLadhiqiyah, Al Qunaytirah, Ar Raqqah, As Suwayda', Dar'a, Dayr azZawr, Dimashq, Halab, Hamah, Hims, Idlib, Rif Dimashq, Tartus
Independence:17 April 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under Frenchadministration)
National holiday:Independence Day, 17 April (1946)
Constitution:13 March 1973
Legal system:based on a combination of French and Ottoman civil law; religiouslaw is used in the family court system; has not accepted compulsoryICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Bashar al-ASAD (since 17 July 2000); VicePresident Farouk al-SHARA (since 11 February 2006)head of government: Prime Minister Muhammad Naji al-UTRI (since 10September 2003); Deputy Prime Minister Abdallah al-DARDARI (since 14June 2005)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the presidentelections: president approved by popular referendum for a seven-yearterm (no term limits); referendum last held 10 July 2000 - after thedeath of President Hafiz al-ASAD, father of Bashar al-ASAD - (nextto be held 2007); vice president appointed by the president; primeminister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the presidentelection results: Bashar al-ASAD approved as president; percent ofvote - Bashar al-ASAD 97.29%note: Hafiz al-ASAD died on 10 June 2000; on 20 June, the Ba'thParty nominated Bashar al-ASAD for president and presented his nameto the People's Council on 25 June; he was approved by a popularreferendum on 10 July
Legislative branch:unicameral People's Council or Majlis al-Shaab (250 seats; memberselected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)elections: last held 2-3 March 2003 (next to be held in 2007)election results: percent of vote by party - NPF 67%, independents33%; seats by party - NPF 167, independents 83; note - theconstitution guarantees that the Ba'th Party (part of the NPFalliance) receives one-half of the seats
Judicial branch:Supreme Constitutional Court (adjudicates electoral disputes andrules on constitutionality of laws and decrees; justices appointedfor four-year terms by the President); High Judicial Council(appoints and dismisses judges; headed by the President); Court ofCassation (national level); State Security Courts (hear casesrelated to national security); Personal Status Courts (religious;hear cases related to marriage and divorce); Courts of FirstInstance (local level; include magistrate, summary, and peace courts)
Political parties and leaders:Arab Socialist Unionist Movement [Ahmed al-AHMED]; NationalProgressive Front or NPF (includes Arab Socialist Renaissance(Ba'th) Party; the governing party) [President Bashar al-ASAD,secretary general]; Socialist Unionist Democratic Party [FadlallalNasr Al-DIN]; Syrian Arab Socialist Party or ASP [Safwan QUDSI];Syrian Communist Party (two branches) [Wissal Farha BAKDASH, YuusufRashid FAYSAL]; Syrian Social National Party [Jubran URAYJI];Unionist Socialist Party [Fayez ISMAIL]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Kurdish Democratic Alliance (includes several groups but has nodesignated leader); Kurdish Democratic Front (includes severalgroups but has no designated leader); Muslim Brotherhood (operatesin exile in London) [Sadr al-Din al-BAYANUNI]; National DemocraticFront [Hassan Abd al-AZIM]
International organization participation:ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, CAEU, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF,IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, UN,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNRWA, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Imad MUSTAFAchancery: 2215 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone: [1] (202) 232-6313FAX: [1] (202) 234-9548
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires MichaelCORBINembassy: Abou Roumaneh, Al-Mansour Street, No. 2, Damascusmailing address: P. O. Box 29, Damascustelephone: [963] (11) 333-1342FAX: [963] (11) 224-7938
Flag description:three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black, colorsassociated with the Arab Liberation flag; two small greenfive-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in the white band;former flag of the United Arab Republic where the two starsrepresented the constituent states of Syria and Egypt; similar tothe flag of Yemen, which has a plain white band, Iraq, which hasthree green stars (plus an Arabic inscription) in a horizontal linecentered in the white band, and that of Egypt, which has a goldEagle of Saladin centered in the white band; the current designdates to 1980
Economy Syria
Economy - overview:The Syrian Government estimates the economy grew by 4.5 percent inreal terms in 2005, led by the petroleum and agricultural sectors,which together account for about half of GDP. Economic performanceand the exchange rate on the informal market were hit byinternational political developments following the assassination inFebruary of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq al-HARIRI and thespecter of international sanctions. Higher crude oil pricescountered declining oil production and exports and helped to narrowthe budget deficit and widen the current account surplus. TheGovernment of Syria has implemented modest economic reforms in thelast few years, including cutting interest rates, opening privatebanks, consolidating some of the multiple exchange rates, andraising prices on some subsidized foodstuffs. Nevertheless, theeconomy remains highly controlled by the government. Long-runeconomic constraints include declining oil production and exports,increasing pressure on water supplies caused by rapid populationgrowth, industrial expansion, and water pollution.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$71.42 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$25.84 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:2.8% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$3,900 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 24.9% industry: 23% services: 51.9% (2004 est.)
Labor force: 5.12 million (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 30% industry: 27% services: 43% (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate:12.3% (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:20% (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):5% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):21.9% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:revenues: $6.392 billionexpenditures: $7.613 billion; including capital expenditures of$3.23 billion (2005 est.)
Public debt:40.1% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:wheat, barley, cotton, lentils, chickpeas, olives, sugar beets;beef, mutton, eggs, poultry, milk
Industries:petroleum, textiles, food processing, beverages, tobacco, phosphaterock mining
Industrial production growth rate:7% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:29.53 billion kWh (2003 est.)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 57.6% hydro: 42.4% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:28.26 billion kWh (2003 est.)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2003)
Oil - production:403,800 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption:240,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports:285,000 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - imports:NA bbl/day
Oil - proved reserves:2.5 billion bbl (2005 est.)
Natural gas - production:6.95 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:6.95 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:240.7 billion cu m (2005)
Current account balance:$1.097 billion (2005 est.)
Exports:$6.344 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:crude oil, petroleum products, fruits and vegetables, cotton fiber,clothing, meat and live animals, wheat
Exports - partners:Iraq 22.3%, Saudi Arabia 15.3%, Italy 8.4%, Germany 8.3%, Lebanon7.7%, Egypt 4.3%, France 4.2% (2005)
Imports:$5.973 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and transport equipment, electric power machinery, foodand livestock, metal and metal products, chemicals and chemicalproducts, plastics, yarn, paper
Imports - partners:Saudi Arabia 10.6%, China 5.6%, Egypt 5.4%, Italy 5.3%, UAE 5.2%,Ukraine 4.2%, Germany 4.1% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$5.363 billion (2005 est.)
Debt - external:$8.566 billion; note - excludes military debt and debt to Russia(2005 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$180 million (2002 est.)
Currency (code):Syrian pound (SYP)
Currency code:SYP
Exchange rates:Syrian pounds per US dollar - (public sector rate): 11.225 (2005),11.225 (2004), 11.225 (2003), 11.225 (2002), 11.225 (2001),(parallel market rate in 'Amman and Beirut): NA (2005), NA (2004),52.8 (2003), 52.4 (2002), 50.4 (2001), (official rate for repayingloans): 11.25 (2004)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Syria
Telephones - main lines in use:2.903 million (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:2.95 million (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: fair system currently undergoing significantimprovement and digital upgrades, including fiber-optic technologydomestic: coaxial cable and microwave radio relay networkinternational: country code - 963; satellite earth stations - 1Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region);1 submarine cable; coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Iraq,Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey; participant in Medarabtel
Radio broadcast stations:AM 14, FM 2, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:4.15 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:44 (plus 17 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:1.05 million (1997)
Internet country code:.sy
Internet hosts:66 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2000)
Internet users:1.1 million (2005)
Transportation Syria
Airports: 92 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 26 over 3,047 m: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 15 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 2 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 66 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 11 under 914 m: 54 (2006)
Heliports:7 (2006)
Pipelines:gas 2,764 km; oil 2,000 km (2006)
Railways:total: 2,711 kmstandard gauge: 2,460 km 1.435-m gaugenarrow gauge: 251 km 1.050-m gauge (2005)
Roadways:total: 91,795 kmpaved: 18,451 kmunpaved: 73,344 km (2003)
Waterways:900 km (not economically significant) (2005)
Merchant marine:total: 108 ships (1000 GRT or over) 386,603 GRT/563,506 DWTby type: bulk carrier 8, cargo 93, container 1, livestock carrier 4,petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 1foreign-owned: 11 (Lebanon 7, Romania 3, UAE 1)registered in other countries: 130 (Cambodia 20, Comoros 4, Cyprus3, Dominica 1, Georgia 43, Hong Kong 1, North Korea 14, Lebanon 1,Malta 7, Mongolia 1, Panama 18, Saint Kitts and Nevis 3, SaintVincent and the Grenadines 6, Sierra Leone 1, Slovakia 2, unknown 5)(2006)
Ports and terminals:Baniyas, Latakia
Military Syria
Military branches:Syrian Armed Forces: Syrian Arab Army (includes Syrian Arab Navy),Syrian Arab Air and Air Defense Force (includes Air Defense Command)(2005)
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript serviceobligation - 30 months (18 months in the Syrian Arab Navy); womenare not conscripted but may volunteer to serve (2004)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 4,356,413females age 18-49: 4,123,339 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 3,453,888females age 18-49: 3,421,558 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 225,113females age 18-49: 211,829 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$858 million (FY00 est.); note - based on official budget data thatmay understate actual spending
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:5.9% (FY00)
Transnational Issues Syria
Disputes - international:Golan Heights is Israeli-occupied with the almost 1,000-strong UNDisengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) patrolling a buffer zone since1964; Lebanon claims Shaba'a farms in Golan Heights; internationalpressure prompts the removal of Syrian troops and intelligencepersonnel stationed in Lebanon since October 1976; 2004 Agreementand pending demarcation settles border dispute with Jordan
Refugees and internally displaced persons:refugees (country of origin): 432,048 (Palestinian Refugees(UNRWA)) 14,391 (Iraq)IDPs: 170,000 (most displaced from Golan Heights during 1967Arab-Israeli War) (2005)
Trafficking in persons:current situation: Syria is a destination country for women fromSouth and Southeast Asia and Africa for domestic servitude and fromEastern Europe and Iraq for sexual exploitation; women are recruitedfor work in Syria as domestic servants, but some face conditions ofexploitation and involuntary servitude including long hours,non-payment of wages, withholding of passports and otherrestrictions on movement, and physical and sexual abuse; EasternEuropean women recruited for work in Syria as cabaret dancers arenot permitted to leave their work premises without permission andhave their passports withheld; some displaced Iraqi women andchildren are reportedly forced into sexual exploitationtier rating: Tier 3 - Syria does not fully comply with the minimumstandards for the elimination of trafficking and is not makingsignificant efforts to do so
Illicit drugs:a transit point for opiates and hashish bound for regional andWestern markets; weak anti-money-laundering controls and bankprivatization may leave it vulnerable to money-laundering
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
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@Taiwan
Introduction Taiwan
Background:In 1895, military defeat forced China to cede Taiwan to Japan.Taiwan reverted to Chinese control after World War II. Following theCommunist victory on the mainland in 1949, 2 million Nationalistsfled to Taiwan and established a government using the 1946constitution drawn up for all of China. Over the next five decades,the ruling authorities gradually democratized and incorporated thenative population within the governing structure. In 2000, Taiwanunderwent its first peaceful transfer of power from the Nationalistto the Democratic Progressive Party. Throughout this period, theisland prospered and became one of East Asia's economic "Tigers."The dominant political issues continue to be the relationshipbetween Taiwan and China - specifically the question of eventualunification - as well as domestic political and economic reform.
Geography Taiwan
Location:Eastern Asia, islands bordering the East China Sea, Philippine Sea,South China Sea, and Taiwan Strait, north of the Philippines, offthe southeastern coast of China
Geographic coordinates:23 30 N, 121 00 E
Map references:Southeast Asia
Area:total: 35,980 sq kmland: 32,260 sq kmwater: 3,720 sq kmnote: includes the Pescadores, Matsu, and Quemoy
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Maryland and Delaware combined
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:1,566.3 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical; marine; rainy season during southwest monsoon (June toAugust); cloudiness is persistent and extensive all year
Terrain:eastern two-thirds mostly rugged mountains; flat to gently rollingplains in west
Elevation extremes:lowest point: South China Sea 0 mhighest point: Yu Shan 3,952 m
Natural resources:small deposits of coal, natural gas, limestone, marble, and asbestos
Land use:arable land: 24%permanent crops: 1%other: 75% (2001)