Radio broadcast stations:AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NAnote: 1 radio station provides service to all islands (2002)
Radios:1,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.tk
Internet hosts:298 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2000)
Internet users:NA
Transportation Tokelau
Ports and terminals: none; offshore anchorage only
Military Tokelau
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$66.72 million
Military - note:defense is the responsibility of New Zealand
Transnational Issues Tokelau
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
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@Tonga
Introduction Tonga
Background:Tonga - unique among Pacific nations - never completely lost itsindigenous governance. The archipelagos of "The Friendly Islands"were united into a Polynesian kingdom in 1845. Tonga became aconstitutional monarchy in 1875 and a British protectorate in 1900;it withdrew from the protectorate and joined the Commonwealth ofNations in 1970. Tonga remains the only monarchy in the Pacific.
Geography Tonga
Location:Oceania, archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirdsof the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Geographic coordinates:20 00 S, 175 00 W
Map references:Oceania
Area:total: 748 sq kmland: 718 sq kmwater: 30 sq km
Area - comparative:four times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:419 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nmcontinental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:tropical; modified by trade winds; warm season (December to May),cool season (May to December)
Terrain:most islands have limestone base formed from uplifted coralformation; others have limestone overlying volcanic base
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 mhighest point: unnamed location on Kao Island 1,033 m
Natural resources:fish, fertile soil
Land use:arable land: 20%permanent crops: 14.67%other: 65.33% (2005)
Irrigated land:NA
Natural hazards:cyclones (October to April); earthquakes and volcanic activity onFonuafo'ou
Environment - current issues:deforestation results as more and more land is being cleared foragriculture and settlement; some damage to coral reefs from starfishand indiscriminate coral and shell collectors; overhunting threatensnative sea turtle populations
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of theSea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone LayerProtection, Ship Pollutionsigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:archipelago of 169 islands (36 inhabited)
People Tonga
Population:114,689 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 35.3% (male 20,679/female 19,843)15-64 years: 60.5% (male 34,399/female 34,964)65 years and over: 4.2% (male 2,059/female 2,745) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 20.7 yearsmale: 20.1 yearsfemale: 21.3 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:2.01% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:25.37 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:5.28 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: 0.98 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 12.3 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 13.63 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 10.91 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 69.82 yearsmale: 67.32 yearsfemale: 72.45 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:3 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: Tongan(s)adjective: Tongan
Ethnic groups:Polynesian, Europeans
Religions:Christian (Free Wesleyan Church claims over 30,000 adherents)
Languages:Tongan, English
Literacy:definition: can read and write Tongan and/or Englishtotal population: 98.9%male: 98.8%female: 99% (1999 est.)
Government Tonga
Country name:conventional long form: Kingdom of Tongaconventional short form: Tongalocal long form: Pule'anga Tongalocal short form: Tongaformer: Friendly Islands
Government type:constitutional monarchy
Capital:name: Nuku'alofageographic coordinates: 21 08 S, 175 12 Wtime difference: UTC+13 (18 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)
Administrative divisions:3 island groups; Ha'apai, Tongatapu, Vava'u
Independence:4 June 1970 (from UK protectorate)
National holiday:Emancipation Day, 4 June (1970)
Constitution:4 November 1875; revised 1 January 1967
Legal system:based on English law
Suffrage:21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: King George TUPOU V (since 11 September 2006)head of government: Prime Minister Dr. Feleti SEVELE (since 11February 2006); Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Viliami TANGI (since 16May 2006)cabinet: Cabinet currently consists of 14 members, 10 appointed bythe monarch for life; 4 appointed from among the elected members ofthe Legislative Assembly, including 2 each from the nobles andpeoples representatives serving three year termsnote: there is also a Privy Council that consists of the monarch,the cabinet, and two governorselections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister anddeputy prime minister appointed by the monarch
Legislative branch:unicameral Legislative Assembly or Fale Alea (32 seats - 14reserved for cabinet ministers sitting ex officio, 9 for noblesselected by the country's 33 nobles, and 9 elected by popular vote;members serve three-year terms)elections: last held 21 March 2005 (next to be held in 2008)election results: Peoples Representatives: percent of vote - HRDMT70%; seats - HRDMT 7, independents 2
Judicial branch:Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the monarch); Court ofAppeal (Chief Justice and high court justices from overseas chosenand approved by Privy Council)
Political parties and leaders:People's Democratic Party [Tesina FUKO]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Human Rights and Democracy Movement Tonga or HRDMT [Rev. SimoteVEA, chairman]; Public Servant's Association [Finau TUTONE]
International organization participation:ACP, AsDB, C, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,IFRCS, IHO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC,UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Fekitamoeloa 'UTOIKAMANU chancery: 250 East 51st Street, New York, NY 10022 telephone: [1] (917) 369-1025 FAX: [1] (917) 369-1024 consulate(s) general: San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:the US does not have an embassy in Tonga; the ambassador to Fiji isaccredited to Tonga
Flag description:red with a bold red cross on a white rectangle in the upperhoist-side corner
Economy Tonga
Economy - overview:Tonga, a small, open, South Pacific island economy, has a narrowexport base in agricultural goods. Squash, coconuts, bananas, andvanilla beans are the main crops, and agricultural exports make uptwo-thirds of total exports. The country must import a highproportion of its food, mainly from New Zealand. The country remainsdependent on external aid and remittances from Tongan communitiesoverseas to offset its trade deficit. Tourism is the second-largestsource of hard currency earnings following remittances. Thegovernment is emphasizing the development of the private sector,especially the encouragement of investment, and is committingincreased funds for health and education. Tonga has a reasonablysound basic infrastructure and well-developed social services. Highunemployment among the young, a continuing upturn in inflation,pressures for democratic reform, and rising civil serviceexpenditures are major issues facing the government.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$178.5 million (2004 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$244 million
GDP - real growth rate:2.4% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$2,200 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 23% industry: 27% services: 50% (FY03/04 est.)
Labor force: 33,910 (2003)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 65% industry and services: 35% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate:13% (FY03/04 est.)
Population below poverty line:24% NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):11.1% (2005 est.)
Budget:revenues: $56.97 millionexpenditures: $83.88 million; including capital expenditures of $1.9million (FY99/00 est.)
Agriculture - products: squash, coconuts, copra, bananas, vanilla beans, cocoa, coffee, ginger, black pepper; fish
Industries:tourism, fishing
Industrial production growth rate:1% (2003 est.)
Electricity - production:34 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:31.62 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2003)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - consumption:800 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:NA bbl/day
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:0 cu m (2003 est.)
Current account balance:$-4.321 million
Exports:$34 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:squash, fish, vanilla beans, root crops
Exports - partners:Japan 41.5%, US 33.1%, NZ 6.3% (2005)
Imports:$122 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:foodstuffs, machinery and transport equipment, fuels, chemicals
Imports - partners:NZ 33.4%, Fiji 26.7%, Australia 10.5%, US 8.4% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$40.83 million
Debt - external:$80.7 million (2004)
Economic aid - recipient:$19.3 million Australia $5.5 million, New Zealand $2.3 million(FY01/02)
Currency (code):pa'anga (TOP)
Currency code:TOP
Exchange rates:pa'anga per US dollar - 1.96 (2005), 1.9716 (2004), 2.142 (2003),2.1952 (2002), 2.1236 (2001)
Fiscal year:1 July - 30 June
Communications Tonga
Telephones - main lines in use:11,200 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:16,400 (2004)
Telephone system:general assessment: competition between Tonga TelecommunicationsCorporation (TCC) and Shoreline Communications Tonga (SCT) isaccelerating expansion of telecommunications; SCT recently grantedauthority to develop high-speed digital service for telephone,Internet, and televisiondomestic: fully automatic switched networkinternational: country code - 676; satellite earth station - 1Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2004)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2004)
Radios:61,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:3 (2004)
Televisions:2,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.to
Internet hosts:18,775 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):2 (2000)
Internet users:3,000 (2004)
Transportation Tonga
Airports: 6 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 51,524 to 2,437 m: 1914 to 1,523 m: 3under 914 m: 1 (2006)
Roadways:total: 680 kmpaved: 184 kmunpaved: 496 km (1999)
Merchant marine:total: 16 ships (1000 GRT or over) 62,185 GRT/72,960 DWTby type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 10, liquefied gas 1, livestockcarrier 1, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo1foreign-owned: 4 (Australia 1, Norway 1, Switzerland 1, UK 1) (2006)
Ports and terminals:Nuku'alofa
Military Tonga
Military branches:Tonga Defense Services: Land Force (Royal Guard), Naval Force(includes Royal Marines, Air Wing) (2006)
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age (est.) (2004)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 25,420females ag3 18-49: 24,827 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 19,840females age 18-49: 21,342 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males ag3 18-49: 1,586females age 18-49: 1,538 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:NA
Transnational Issues Tonga
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
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@Trinidad and Tobago
Introduction Trinidad and Tobago
Background:First colonized by the Spanish, the islands came under Britishcontrol in the early 19th century. The islands' sugar industry washurt by the emancipation of the slaves in 1834. Manpower wasreplaced with the importation of contract laborers from Indiabetween 1845 and 1917, which boosted sugar production as well as thecocoa industry. The discovery of oil on Trinidad in 1910 addedanother important export. Independence was attained in 1962. Thecountry is one of the most prosperous in the Caribbean thankslargely to petroleum and natural gas production and processing.Tourism, mostly in Tobago, is targeted for expansion and is growing.
Geography Trinidad and Tobago
Location:Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North AtlanticOcean, northeast of Venezuela
Geographic coordinates:11 00 N, 61 00 W
Map references:Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total: 5,128 sq kmland: 5,128 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Delaware
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:362 km
Maritime claims:measured from claimed archipelagic baselinesterritorial sea: 12 nmcontiguous zone: 24 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nmcontinental shelf: 200 nm or to the outer edge of the continentalmargin
Climate:tropical; rainy season (June to December)
Terrain:mostly plains with some hills and low mountains
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: El Cerro del Aripo 940 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, asphalt
Land use: arable land: 14.62% permanent crops: 9.16% other: 76.22% (2005)
Irrigated land:40 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:outside usual path of hurricanes and other tropical storms
Environment - current issues: water pollution from agricultural chemicals, industrial wastes, and raw sewage; oil pollution of beaches; deforestation; soil erosion
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:Pitch Lake, on Trinidad's southwestern coast, is the world'slargest natural reservoir of asphalt
People Trinidad and Tobago
Population:1,065,842 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 20.1% (male 109,936/female 104,076)15-64 years: 71.3% (male 398,657/female 361,093)65 years and over: 8.6% (male 41,162/female 50,918) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 31.2 yearsmale: 30.8 yearsfemale: 31.7 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:-0.87% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:12.9 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:10.57 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:-11.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.1 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 25.05 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 26.86 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 23.15 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 66.76 yearsmale: 65.71 yearsfemale: 67.86 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.74 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:3.2% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:29,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:1,900 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Trinidadian(s), Tobagonian(s)adjective: Trinidadian, Tobagonian
Ethnic groups:Indian (South Asian) 40%, African 37.5%, mixed 20.5%, other 1.2%,unspecified 0.8% (2000 census)
Religions:Roman Catholic 26%, Hindu 22.5%, Anglican 7.8%, Baptist 7.2%,Pentecostal 6.8%, other Christian 5.8%, Muslim 5.8%, Seventh DayAdventist 4%, other 10.8%, unspecified 1.4%, none 1.9% (2000 census)
Languages:English (official), Hindi, French, Spanish, Chinese
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 98.6%male: 99.1%female: 98% (2003 est.)
Government Trinidad and Tobago
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Trinidad and Tobagoconventional short form: Trinidad and Tobago
Government type:parliamentary democracy
Capital:name: Port-of-Spaingeographic coordinates: 10 39 N, 61 31 Wtime difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)
Administrative divisions:9 regional corporations, 2 city corporations, 3 boroughcorporations, 1 wardregional corporations: Couva/Tabaquite/Talparo, Diego Martin,Mayaro/Rio Claro, Penal/Debe, Princes Town, Sangre Grande, SanJuan/Laventille, Siparia, Tunapuna/Piarcocity corporations: Port-of-Spain, San Fernandoborough corporations: Arima, Chaguanas, Point Fortinward: Tobago
Independence:31 August 1962 (from UK)
National holiday:Independence Day, 31 August (1962)
Constitution:1 August 1976
Legal system:based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts inthe Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President George Maxwell RICHARDS (since 17 March2003)head of government: Prime Minister Patrick MANNING (since 24December 2001)cabinet: Cabinet appointed from among the members of Parliamentelections: president elected by an electoral college, which consistsof the members of the Senate and House of Representatives, for afive-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 14February 2003 (next to be held in 2008); the president usuallyappoints as prime minister the leader of the majority party in theHouse of Representativeselection results: George Maxwell RICHARDS elected president; percentof electoral college vote - 43%
Legislative branch:bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (31 seats; 16 membersappointed by the ruling party, 9 by the President, 6 by theopposition party for a maximum term of five years) and the House ofRepresentatives (36 seats; members are elected by popular vote toserve five-year terms)elections: House of Representatives - last held 7 October 2002 (nextto be held by October 2007)election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote - PNM55.5%, UNC 44.5%; seats by party - PNM 20, UNC 16note: Tobago has a unicameral House of Assembly with 12 membersserving four-year terms; last election held January 2005; seats byparty - PNM 11, DAC 1
Judicial branch:Supreme Court of Judicature (comprised of the High Court of Justiceand the Court of Appeals; the chief justice is appointed by thepresident after consultation with the prime minister and the leaderof the opposition; other justices are appointed by the president onthe advice of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission); High Courtof Justice; Caribbean Court of Appeals member; Court of Appeals; thehighest court of appeal is the Privy Council in London
Political parties and leaders:National Alliance for Reconstruction or NAR [Lennox SANKERSINGH];People's National Movement or PNM [Patrick MANNING]; Team Unity orTU [Ramesh MAHARAJ]; United National Congress or UNC [BasdeoPANDAY]; Democratic Action Committee or DAC [Hochoy CHARLES], note -only active in Tobago
Political pressure groups and leaders:Jamaat-al Muslimeen [Yasin BAKR]
International organization participation:ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-24, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,IOC, ISO, ITU, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Marina Annette VALEREchancery: 1708 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036telephone: [1] (202) 467-6490FAX: [1] (202) 785-3130consulate(s) general: Miami, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Roy L. AUSTINembassy: 15 Queen's Park West, Port-of-Spainmailing address: P. O. Box 752, Port-of-Spaintelephone: [1] (868) 622-6371 through 6376FAX: [1] (868) 628-5462
Flag description:red with a white-edged black diagonal band from the upper hoistside to the lower fly side
Economy Trinidad and Tobago
Economy - overview:Trinidad and Tobago, the leading Caribbean producer of oil and gas,has earned a reputation as an excellent investment site forinternational businesses. Tourism is a growing sector, although notproportionately as important as in many other Caribbean islands. Theeconomy benefits from low inflation and a growing trade surplus.Prospects for growth in 2006 are good as prices for oil,petrochemicals, and liquefied natural gas are expected to remainhigh, and foreign direct investment continues to grow to supportexpanded capacity in the energy sector. The government is copingwith a rise in violent crime.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$18.11 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$13.02 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:7% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$16,800 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 0.7% industry: 57% services: 42.3% (2005 est.)
Labor force: 620,000 (2005 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 9.5%, manufacturing, mining, and quarrying 14%, construction and utilities 12.4%, services 64.1% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate:8% (2005 est.)
Population below poverty line:21% (1992 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):6.9% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):19.6% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:revenues: $4.5 billionexpenditures: $4.06 billion; including capital expenditures of$117.3 million (2005 est.)
Public debt:43% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:cocoa, rice, citrus, coffee, vegetables; poultry
Industries:petroleum, chemicals, tourism, food processing, cement, beverage,cotton textiles
Industrial production growth rate:9% (2005 est.)
Electricity - production:6.076 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 99.8% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0.2% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:5.651 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2003)
Oil - production:150,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption:29,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:NA bbl/day
Oil - proved reserves:990 million bbl (1 January 2004)
Natural gas - production:24.7 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:12.79 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - exports:11.79 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:733 billion cu m (1 January 2004)
Current account balance:$2.88 billion (2005 est.)
Exports:$9.161 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, steel products,fertilizer, sugar, cocoa, coffee, citrus, flowers
Exports - partners:US 68.8%, Jamaica 5.5%, Barbados 2.9% (2005)
Imports:$6.011 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured goods, food, liveanimals
Imports - partners:US 27.7%, Venezuela 13.3%, Brazil 11.8%, Japan 5.5%, Canada 4.2%(2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$4.888 billion (2005 est.)
Debt - external:$2.767 billion (2005 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$24 million (1999 est.)
Currency (code):Trinidad and Tobago dollar (TTD)
Currency code:TTD
Exchange rates:Trinidad and Tobago dollars per US dollar - 6.2842 (2005), 6.299(2004), 6.2951 (2003), 6.2487 (2002), 6.2332 (2001)
Fiscal year:1 October - 30 September
Communications Trinidad and Tobago
Telephones - main lines in use:323,500 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:800,000 (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: excellent international service; good localservicedomestic: NAinternational: country code - 1-868; satellite earth station - 1Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); tropospheric scatter to Barbados andGuyana
Radio broadcast stations:AM 4, FM 18, shortwave 0 (2004)
Radios:680,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:6 (2005)
Televisions:425,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.tt
Internet hosts:30,732 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):17 (2000)
Internet users:160,000 (2005)
Transportation Trinidad and Tobago
Airports: 6 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 3 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 3914 to 1,523 m: 1under 914 m: 2 (2006)
Pipelines:condensate 253 km; gas 1,278 km; oil 571 km (2006)
Roadways:total: 8,320 kmpaved: 4,252 kmunpaved: 4,068 km (1999)
Merchant marine:total: 8 ships (1000 GRT or over) 16,760 GRT/7,941 DWTby type: liquefied gas 1, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 3, petroleumtanker 2foreign-owned: 1 (US 1)registered in other countries: 1 (Panama 1) (2006)
Ports and terminals:Pointe-a-Pierre, Point Lisas, Port-of-Spain
Military Trinidad and Tobago
Military branches:Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force: Ground Force, Coast Guard(includes air wing) (2004)
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription(2001)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 290,715females age 18-49: 258,410 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 202,958females age 18-49: 173,797 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$66.72 million (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:0.6% (2003 est.)
Transnational Issues Trinidad and Tobago
Disputes - international:Barbados will assert its claim before the UN Convention on the Lawof the Sea (UNCLOS) that the northern limit of Trinidad and Tobago'smaritime boundary with Venezuela extends into its waters; Guyana hasalso expressed its intention to challenge this boundary as it mayextend into its waters as well
Illicit drugs:transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the USand Europe; producer of cannabis
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
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@Tunisia
Introduction Tunisia
Background:Rivalry between French and Italian interests in Tunisia culminatedin a French invasion in 1881 and the creation of a protectorate.Agitation for independence in the decades following World War I wasfinally successful in getting the French to recognize Tunisia as anindependent state in 1956. The country's first president, HabibBOURGUIBA, established a strict one-party state. He dominated thecountry for 31 years, repressing Islamic fundamentalism andestablishing rights for women unmatched by any other Arab nation.Tunisia has long taken a moderate, non-aligned stance in its foreignrelations. Domestically, it has sought to defuse rising pressure fora more open political society.
Geography Tunisia
Location:Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeriaand Libya
Geographic coordinates:34 00 N, 9 00 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 163,610 sq kmland: 155,360 sq kmwater: 8,250 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly larger than Georgia
Land boundaries: total: 1,424 km border countries: Algeria 965 km, Libya 459 km
Coastline: 1,148 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmcontiguous zone: 24 nm
Climate:temperate in north with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers;desert in south
Terrain:mountains in north; hot, dry central plain; semiarid south mergesinto the Sahara
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Shatt al Gharsah -17 mhighest point: Jebel ech Chambi 1,544 m
Natural resources:petroleum, phosphates, iron ore, lead, zinc, salt
Land use:arable land: 17.05%permanent crops: 13.08%other: 69.87% (2005)
Irrigated land:3,940 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:NA
Environment - current issues: toxic and hazardous waste disposal is ineffective and poses health risks; water pollution from raw sewage; limited natural fresh water resources; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note:strategic location in central Mediterranean; Malta and Tunisia arediscussing the commercial exploitation of the continental shelfbetween their countries, particularly for oil exploration
People Tunisia
Population:10,175,014 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 24.6% (male 1,293,235/female 1,212,994)15-64 years: 68.6% (male 3,504,283/female 3,478,268)65 years and over: 6.7% (male 327,521/female 358,713) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 27.8 yearsmale: 27.3 yearsfemale: 28.3 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:0.99% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:15.52 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:5.13 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:-0.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.07 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 23.84 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 26.7 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 20.77 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 75.12 yearsmale: 73.4 yearsfemale: 76.96 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.74 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:less than 0.1% (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:1,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 200 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: intermediate food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A vectorborne diseases: may be a significant risk in some locations during the transmission season (typically April through November) (2005)
Nationality: noun: Tunisian(s) adjective: Tunisian
Ethnic groups:Arab 98%, European 1%, Jewish and other 1%
Religions:Muslim 98%, Christian 1%, Jewish and other 1%
Languages:Arabic (official and one of the languages of commerce), French(commerce)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 74.3%male: 83.4%female: 65.3% (2004 est.)
Government Tunisia
Country name:conventional long form: Tunisian Republicconventional short form: Tunisialocal long form: Al Jumhuriyah at Tunisiyahlocal short form: Tunis
Government type:republic
Capital:name: Tunisgeographic coordinates: 36 48 N, 10 11 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:24 governorates; Ariana (Aryanah), Beja (Bajah), Ben Arous (Bin'Arus), Bizerte (Banzart), Gabes (Qabis), Gafsa (Qafsah), Jendouba(Jundubah), Kairouan (Al Qayrawan), Kasserine (Al Qasrayn), Kebili(Qibili), Kef (Al Kaf), Mahdia (Al Mahdiyah), Manouba (Manubah),Medenine (Madanin), Monastir (Al Munastir), Nabeul (Nabul), Sfax(Safaqis), Sidi Bou Zid (Sidi Bu Zayd), Siliana (Silyanah), Sousse(Susah), Tataouine (Tatawin), Tozeur (Tawzar), Tunis, Zaghouan(Zaghwan)
Independence:20 March 1956 (from France)
National holiday:Independence Day, 20 March (1956)
Constitution:1 June 1959; amended 1988, 2002
Legal system:based on French civil law system and Shari'a law; some judicialreview of legislative acts in the Supreme Court in joint session
Suffrage:20 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Zine el Abidine BEN ALI (since 7 November1987)head of government: Prime Minister Mohamed GHANNOUCHI (since 17November 1999)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the presidentelections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term(no term limits); election last held 24 October 2004 (next to beheld October 2009); prime minister appointed by the presidentelection results: President Zine El Abidine BEN ALI reelected for afourth term; percent of vote - Zine El Abidine BEN ALI 94.5%,Mohamed BOUCHIHA 3.8%, Mohamed Ali HALOUANI 1%
Legislative branch:bicameral system consists of the Chamber of Deputies or Majlisal-Nuwaab (189 seats; members elected by popular vote to servefive-year terms) and the Chamber of Advisors (126 seats; 85 memberselected by municipal counselors, deputies, mayors, and professionalassociations and trade unions; 41 members are presidentialappointees; members serve six-year terms)elections: Chamber of Deputies - last held 24 October 2004 (next tobe held October 2009); Chamber of Advisors - last held 3 July 2005(next to be held July 2011)election results: Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party -NA; seats by party - RCD 152, MDS 14, PUP 11, UDU 7, Al-Tajdid 3,PSL 2; Chamber of Advisors - percent of vote by party - NA; seats byparty - RCD 71 (14 trade union seats vacant (boycotted))
Judicial branch:Court of Cassation or Cour de Cassation
Political parties and leaders:Al-Tajdid Movement [Ali HALOUANI]; Constitutional Democratic RallyParty (Rassemblement Constitutionnel Democratique) or RCD [PresidentZine El Abidine BEN ALI (official ruling party)]; Liberal SocialParty or PSL [Mounir BEJI]; Movement of Socialist Democrats or MDS[Ismail BOULAHYA]; Popular Unity Party or PUP [Mohamed BOUCHIHA];Progressive Democratic Party [Nejib CHEBBI]; Unionist DemocraticUnion or UDU [Ahmed INOUBLI]
Political pressure groups and leaders:the Islamic fundamentalist party, Al Nahda (Renaissance), isoutlawed
International organization participation:ABEDA, ACCT, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, AU, BSEC (observer), FAO, G-77,IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO,ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, MONUC,NAM, OAPEC (suspended), OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, ONUB, OPCW, OSCE(partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UPU, WCO, WFTU,WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Nejib HACHANA chancery: 1515 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005 telephone: [1] (202) 862-1850 FAX: [1] (202) 862-1858
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador designate Robert F. GODEC embassy: Zone Nord-Est des Berges du Lac Nord de Tunis 1053 mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [216] 71 107-000 FAX: [216] 71 107-090
Flag description:red with a white disk in the center bearing a red crescent nearlyencircling a red five-pointed star; the crescent and star aretraditional symbols of Islam
Economy Tunisia
Economy - overview:Tunisia has a diverse economy, with important agricultural, mining,energy, tourism, and manufacturing sectors. Governmental control ofeconomic affairs while still heavy has gradually lessened over thepast decade with increasing privatization, simplification of the taxstructure, and a prudent approach to debt. Progressive socialpolicies also have helped raise living conditions in Tunisiarelative to the region. Real growth slowed to a 15-year low of 1.9%in 2002 because of agricultural drought and lackluster tourism.Better rains in 2003 through 2005, however, helped push GDP growthto about 5% for these years. Tourism also recovered after the end ofcombat operations in Iraq. Tunisia is gradually removing barriers totrade with the EU. Broader privatization, further liberalization ofthe investment code to increase foreign investment, improvements ingovernment efficiency, and reduction of the trade deficit are amongthe challenges ahead.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$82.85 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$30.94 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:4.2% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$8,200 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 13.2% industry: 31.8% services: 55% (2005 est.)
Labor force: 3.41 million note: shortage of skilled labor (2005 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 55% industry: 23% services: 22% (1995 est.)
Unemployment rate:14.2% (2005 est.)
Population below poverty line:7.4% (2005 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.3% highest 10%: 31.8% (1995)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:40 (2005 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):2.1% (2005 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):22.4% of GDP (2005 est.)
Budget:revenues: $7.322 billionexpenditures: $8.304 billion; including capital expenditures of $1.6billion (2005 est.)
Public debt:59.1% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:olives, olive oil, grain, tomatoes, citrus fruit, sugar beets,dates, almonds; beef, dairy products
Industries:petroleum, mining (particularly phosphate and iron ore), tourism,textiles, footwear, agribusiness, beverages
Industrial production growth rate:0.9% (2005 est.)
Electricity - production:11.56 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 99.5% hydro: 0.5% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:10.76 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports:10 million kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports:5 million kWh (2003)
Oil - production:76,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:90,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:NA bbl/day
Oil - proved reserves:1.7 billion bbl (2005 est.)
Natural gas - production:2.15 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:3.84 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:1.58 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:77.87 billion cu m (2005)
Current account balance:$-359.2 million (2005 est.)
Exports:$10.3 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:textiles, mechanical goods, phosphates and chemicals, agriculturalproducts, hydrocarbons
Exports - partners:France 30.9%, Italy 21.1%, Germany 9.4%, Spain 5.5%, Libya 4.5%(2005)
Imports:$12.86 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:textiles, machinery and equipment, hydrocarbons, chemicals, food
Imports - partners:France 25.5%, Italy 22.9%, Germany 9.5%, Spain 5.5% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$4.375 billion (2005 est.)
Debt - external:$16.09 billion (2005 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$114.6 million (2002)
Currency (code):Tunisian dinar (TND)
Currency code:TND
Exchange rates:Tunisian dinars per US dollar - 1.2974 (2005), 1.2455 (2004),1.2885 (2003), 1.4217 (2002), 1.4387 (2001)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Tunisia
Telephones - main lines in use:1,257,500 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:5.681 million (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: above the African average and continuing to beupgraded; key centers are Sfax, Sousse, Bizerte, and Tunis; Internetaccess availabledomestic: trunk facilities consist of open-wire lines, coaxialcable, and microwave radio relayinternational: country code - 216; 5 submarine cables; satelliteearth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; coaxialcable and microwave radio relay to Algeria and Libya; participant inMedarabtel; two international gateway digital switches
Radio broadcast stations:AM 7, FM 20, shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios:2.06 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:26 (plus 76 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:920,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.tn
Internet hosts:428 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2000)
Internet users:953,800 (2005)
Transportation Tunisia
Airports: 30 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 14 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 16 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 7 (2006)
Pipelines:gas 2,945 km; oil 1,227 km; refined products 351 km (2006)
Railways:total: 2,153 kmstandard gauge: 471 km 1.435-m gaugenarrow gauge: 1,674 km 1.000-m gauge (65 km electrified)dual gauge: 8 km 1.435 m and 1.000-m gauges (three rails) (2005)
Roadways:total: 18,997 kmpaved: 12,424 km (including 142 km of expressways)unpaved: 6,573 km (2001)
Merchant marine:total: 9 ships (1000 GRT or over) 146,759 GRT/115,118 DWTby type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 1, chemical tanker 3, passenger/cargo4 (2006)
Ports and terminals:Bizerte, Gabes, La Goulette, Skhira
Military Tunisia
Military branches:Army, Navy, Republic of Tunisia Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiyaal-Jamahiriyah At'tunisia) (2006)
Military service age and obligation: 20 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 12 months; 18 years of age for voluntary military service (2004)
Manpower available for military service:males age 20-49: 2,441,741females age 20-49: 2,406,362 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 20-49: 2,035,431females age 20-49: 2,000,757 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 108,817females age 20-49: 103,087 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$356 million (FY99)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.5% (FY99)
Transnational Issues Tunisia
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
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@Turkey
Introduction Turkey
Background:Modern Turkey was founded in 1923 from the Anatolian remnants ofthe defeated Ottoman Empire by national hero Mustafa KEMAL, who waslater honored with the title Ataturk, or "Father of the Turks."Under his authoritarian leadership, the country adopted wide-rangingsocial, legal, and political reforms. After a period of one-partyrule, an experiment with multi-party politics led to the 1950election victory of the opposition Democratic Party and the peacefultransfer of power. Since then, Turkish political parties havemultiplied, but democracy has been fractured by periods ofinstability and intermittent military coups (1960, 1971, 1980),which in each case eventually resulted in a return of politicalpower to civilians. In 1997, the military again helped engineer theouster - popularly dubbed a "post-modern coup" - of the thenIslamic-oriented government. Turkey intervened militarily on Cyprusin 1974 to prevent a Greek takeover of the island and has sinceacted as patron state to the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus,"which only Turkey recognizes. A separatist insurgency begun in 1984by the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) - now known as the People'sCongress of Kurdistan or Kongra-Gel (KGK) - has dominated theTurkish military's attention and claimed more than 30,000 lives.After the capture of the group's leader in 1999, the insurgentslargely withdrew from Turkey, mainly to northern Iraq. In 2004, KGKannounced an end to its ceasefire and attacks attributed to the KGKincreased. Turkey joined the UN in 1945 and in 1952 it became amember of NATO. In 1964, Turkey became an associate member of theEuropean Community; over the past decade, it has undertaken manyreforms to strengthen its democracy and economy, enabling it tobegin accession membership talks with the European Union.
Geography Turkey
Location:Southeastern Europe and Southwestern Asia (that portion of Turkeywest of the Bosporus is geographically part of Europe), borderingthe Black Sea, between Bulgaria and Georgia, and bordering theAegean Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, between Greece and Syria
Geographic coordinates:39 00 N, 35 00 E