Legal system:based on English common law, except in Quebec, where civil lawsystem based on French law prevails; accepts compulsory ICJjurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),represented by Governor General Michaelle JEAN (since 27 September2005)head of government: Prime Minister Stephen HARPER (since 6 February2006)cabinet: Federal Ministry chosen by the prime minister usually fromamong the members of his own party sitting in Parliamentelections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; governor generalappointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister for afive-year term; following legislative elections, the leader of themajority party or the leader of the majority coalition in the Houseof Commons is automatically designated prime minister by thegovernor general
Legislative branch:bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of the Senate or Senat(members appointed by the governor general with the advice of theprime minister and serve until reaching 75 years of age; its normallimit is 105 senators) and the House of Commons or Chambre desCommunes (308 seats; members elected by direct, popular vote toserve for up to five-year terms)elections: House of Commons - last held 23 January 2006 (next to beheld in 2011)election results: House of Commons - percent of vote by party -Conservative Party 36.3%, Liberal Party 30.2%, New Democratic Party17.5%, Bloc Quebecois 10.5%, Greens 4.5%, other 1%; seats by party -Conservative Party 124, Liberal Party 102, New Democratic Party 29,Bloc Quebecois 51, other 2; seats by party as of February 2007 -Conservative Party 125, Liberal Party 100, New Democratic Party 29,Bloc Quebecois 51, other 2
Judicial branch:Supreme Court of Canada (judges are appointed by the prime ministerthrough the governor general); Federal Court of Canada; FederalCourt of Appeal; Provincial Courts (these are named variously Courtof Appeal, Court of Queens Bench, Superior Court, Supreme Court, andCourt of Justice)
Political parties and leaders:Bloc Quebecois [Gilles DUCEPPE]; Conservative Party of Canada (amerger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive ConservativeParty) [Stephen HARPER]; Green Party [Elizabeth MAY]; Liberal Party[Stephane DION]; New Democratic Party [Jack LAYTON]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACCT, AfDB, APEC, Arctic Council, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN (dialoguepartner), Australia Group, BIS, C, CDB, CE (observer), EAPC, EBRD,ESA (cooperating state), FAO, G-7, G-8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD,ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF,IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUC,NAFTA, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS, OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE,Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), SECI (observer), UN, UNAMSIL,UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNMOVIC, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU,WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Michael WILSONchancery: 501 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20001telephone: [1] (202) 682-1740FAX: [1] (202) 682-7701consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Dallas,Denver, Detroit, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, New York, Phoenix,San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Tucsonconsulate(s): Anchorage, Houston, Philadelphia, Princeton (NewJersey), Raleigh, San Jose (California)
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador David H. WILKINS embassy: 490 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 1G8 mailing address: P. O. Box 5000, Ogdensburgh, NY 13669-0430 telephone: [1] (613) 238-5335, 4470 FAX: [1] (613) 688-3082 consulate(s) general: Calgary, Halifax, Montreal, Quebec, Toronto, Vancouver, Winnipeg
Flag description:two vertical bands of red (hoist and fly side, half width), withwhite square between them; an 11-pointed red maple leaf is centeredin the white square; the official colors of Canada are red and white
Economy Canada
Economy - overview:As an affluent, high-tech industrial society in the trillion dollarclass, Canada resembles the US in its market-oriented economicsystem, pattern of production, and affluent living standards. SinceWorld War II, the impressive growth of the manufacturing, mining,and service sectors has transformed the nation from a largely ruraleconomy into one primarily industrial and urban. The 1989 US-CanadaFree Trade Agreement (FTA) and the 1994 North American Free TradeAgreement (NAFTA) (which includes Mexico) touched off a dramaticincrease in trade and economic integration with the US. Given itsgreat natural resources, skilled labor force, and modern capitalplant, Canada enjoys solid economic prospects. Top-notch fiscalmanagement has produced consecutive balanced budgets since 1997,although public debate continues over how to manage the rising costof the publicly funded healthcare system. Exports account forroughly a third of GDP. Canada enjoys a substantial trade surpluswith its principal trading partner, the US, which absorbs about 85%of Canadian exports. Canada is the US' largest foreign supplier ofenergy, including oil, gas, uranium, and electric power.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$1.165 trillion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$1.089 trillion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:2.8% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$35,200 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 2.3% industry: 29.2% services: 68.5% (2006 est.)
Labor force: 17.59 million (2006 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 2%, manufacturing 14%, construction 5%, services 75%, other 3% (2004)
Unemployment rate: 6.4% (2006 est.)
Population below poverty line: 15.9%; note - this figure is the Low Income Cut-Off (LICO), a calculation that results in higher figures than found in many comparable economies; Canada does not have an official poverty line (2003)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.8% highest 10%: 23.8% (1994)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:33.1 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):2% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):21.3% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget:revenues: $183.5 billionexpenditures: $181.8 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA(2005 est.)
Public debt:65.4% of GDP (2006 est.)
Agriculture - products:wheat, barley, oilseed, tobacco, fruits, vegetables; dairyproducts; forest products; fish
Industries:transportation equipment, chemicals, processed and unprocessedminerals, food products, wood and paper products, fish products,petroleum and natural gas
Industrial production growth rate:0.7% (2006 est.)
Electricity - production:573 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 28% hydro: 57.9% nuclear: 12.9% other: 1.3% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:522.4 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:33.01 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:22.48 billion kWh (2004)
Oil - production:3.135 million bbl/day (2004)
Oil - consumption:2.294 million bbl/day (2004)
Oil - exports:1.6 million bbl/day (2004)
Oil - imports:963,000 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - proved reserves: 178.9 billion bbl note: includes oil sands (2004 est.)
Natural gas - production:183.6 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:95.85 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - exports:104 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - imports:10.86 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:1.603 trillion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)
Current account balance:$20.56 billion (2006 est.)
Exports:$405 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Exports - commodities:motor vehicles and parts, industrial machinery, aircraft,telecommunications equipment; chemicals, plastics, fertilizers; woodpulp, timber, crude petroleum, natural gas, electricity, aluminum
Exports - partners:US 84.2%, Japan 2.1%, UK 1.8% (2005)
Imports:$353.2 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment, motor vehicles and parts, crude oil,chemicals, electricity, durable consumer goods
Imports - partners:US 56.7%, China 7.8%, Mexico 3.8% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$35.79 billion (August 2006 est.)
Debt - external:$684.7 billion (30 June 2006)
Economic aid - donor:ODA, $2.6 billion (2004)
Currency (code):Canadian dollar (CAD)
Currency code:CAD
Exchange rates:Canadian dollars per US dollar - 1.13186 (2006), 1.2118 (2005),1.301 (2004), 1.4011 (2003), 1.5693 (2002)
Fiscal year:1 April - 31 March
Communications Canada
Telephones - main lines in use:18.276 million (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:16.6 million (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: excellent service provided by modern technologydomestic: domestic satellite system with about 300 earth stationsinternational: country code - 1-xxx; 5 coaxial submarine cables;satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (4 Atlantic Ocean and 1Pacific Ocean) and 2 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 245, FM 582, shortwave 6 (2004)
Radios:32.3 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:80 (plus many repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:21.5 million (1997)
Internet country code:.ca
Internet hosts:3,934,223 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):760 (2000 est.)
Internet users:21.9 million (2005)
Transportation Canada
Airports: 1,337 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 509 over 3,047 m: 18 2,438 to 3,047 m: 15 1,524 to 2,437 m: 151 914 to 1,523 m: 248 under 914 m: 77 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 828 1,524 to 2,437 m: 66 914 to 1,523 m: 355 under 914 m: 407 (2006)
Heliports:12 (2006)
Pipelines:crude and refined oil 23,564 km; liquid petroleum gas 74,980 km(2005)
Railways:total: 48,467 kmstandard gauge: 48,467 km 1.435-m gauge (2005)
Roadways:total: 1,042,300 kmpaved: 415,600 km (including 17,000 km of expressways)unpaved: 626,700 km (2005)
Waterways:631 kmnote: Saint Lawrence Seaway of 3,769 km, including the SaintLawrence River of 3,058 km, shared with United States (2003)
Merchant marine:total: 173 ships (1000 GRT or over) 2,129,243 GRT/2,716,340 DWTby type: bulk carrier 62, cargo 10, chemical tanker 9, container 2,passenger 6, passenger/cargo 63, petroleum tanker 13, roll on/rolloff 8foreign-owned: 7 (Germany 3, Netherlands 1, Norway 1, US 2)registered in other countries: 111 (Australia 1, Bahamas 18,Barbados 8, Cambodia 6, Cyprus 2, Denmark 1, Honduras 1, Hong Kong28, Liberia 2, Malta 18, Marshall Islands 6, Panama 4, Russia 1,Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 6, US 4, Vanuatu 5) (2006)
Ports and terminals:Fraser River Port, Halifax, Montreal, Port Cartier, Quebec, SaintJohn's (Newfoundland), Sept Isles, Vancouver
Military Canada
Military branches:Canadian Forces: Land Forces Command, Maritime Command, AirCommand, Canada Command (homeland security) (2006)
Military service age and obligation:16 years of age for voluntary military service; women compriseapproximately 11% of Canada's armed forces (2001)
Manpower available for military service:males age 16-49: 8,216,510females age 16-49: 8,034,939 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 16-49: 6,740,490females age 16-49: 6,580,868 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 223,821females age 16-49: 212,900 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$9,801.7 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.1% (2003)
Transnational Issues Canada
Disputes - international:managed maritime boundary disputes with the US at Dixon Entrance,Beaufort Sea, Strait of Juan de Fuca, and around the disputedMachias Seal Island and North Rock; working toward greatercooperation with US in monitoring people and commodities crossingthe border; uncontested sovereignty dispute with Denmark over HansIsland in the Kennedy Channel between Ellesmere Island and Greenland
Illicit drugs:illicit producer of cannabis for the domestic drug market andexport to US; use of hydroponics technology permits growers to plantlarge quantities of high-quality marijuana indoors; transit pointfor ecstasy entering the US market; vulnerable to narcotics moneylaundering because of its mature financial services sector
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007
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@Cape Verde
Introduction Cape Verde
Background:The uninhabited islands were discovered and colonized by thePortuguese in the 15th century; Cape Verde subsequently became atrading center for African slaves and later an important coaling andresupply stop for whaling and transatlantic shipping. Followingindependence in 1975, and a tentative interest in unification withGuinea-Bissau, a one-party system was established and maintaineduntil multi-party elections were held in 1990. Cape Verde continuesto exhibit one of Africa's most stable democratic governments.Repeated droughts during the second half of the 20th century causedsignificant hardship and prompted heavy emigration. As a result,Cape Verde's expatriate population is greater than its domestic one.Most Cape Verdeans have both African and Portuguese antecedents.
Geography Cape Verde
Location:Western Africa, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, westof Senegal
Geographic coordinates:16 00 N, 24 00 W
Map references:Political Map of the World
Area:total: 4,033 sq kmland: 4,033 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly larger than Rhode Island
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:965 km
Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic baselines territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:temperate; warm, dry summer; precipitation meager and very erratic
Terrain:steep, rugged, rocky, volcanic
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mt. Fogo 2,829 m (a volcano on Fogo Island)
Natural resources: salt, basalt rock, limestone, kaolin, fish, clay, gypsum
Land use: arable land: 11.41% permanent crops: 0.74% other: 87.85% (2005)
Irrigated land:30 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:prolonged droughts; seasonal harmattan wind produces obscuringdust; volcanically and seismically active
Environment - current issues: soil erosion; deforestation due to demand for wood used as fuel; desertification; environmental damage has threatened several species of birds and reptiles; illegal beach sand extraction; overfishing
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:strategic location 500 km from west coast of Africa near majornorth-south sea routes; important communications station; importantsea and air refueling site
People Cape Verde
Population:420,979 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 37.9% (male 80,594/female 79,126)15-64 years: 55.3% (male 113,450/female 119,423)65 years and over: 6.7% (male 10,542/female 17,844) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 19.8 yearsmale: 19 yearsfemale: 20.7 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:0.64% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:24.87 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:6.55 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:-11.91 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: 0.95 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 46.52 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 51.63 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 41.26 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 70.73 yearsmale: 67.41 yearsfemale: 74.15 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:3.38 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.035% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:775 (2001)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:225 (as of 2001)
Nationality:noun: Cape Verdean(s)adjective: Cape Verdean
Ethnic groups:Creole (mulatto) 71%, African 28%, European 1%
Religions:Roman Catholic (infused with indigenous beliefs); Protestant(mostly Church of the Nazarene)
Languages:Portuguese, Crioulo (a blend of Portuguese and West African words)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 76.6%male: 85.8%female: 69.2% (2003 est.)
Government Cape Verde
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Cape Verdeconventional short form: Cape Verdelocal long form: Republica de Cabo Verdelocal short form: Cabo Verde
Government type:republic
Capital:name: Praiageographic coordinates: 14 55 N, 23 31 Wtime difference: UTC-1 (4 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)
Administrative divisions:17 municipalities (concelhos, singular - concelho); Boa Vista,Brava, Maio, Mosteiros, Paul, Praia, Porto Novo, Ribeira Grande,Sal, Santa Catarina, Santa Cruz, Sao Domingos, Sao Filipe, SaoMiguel, Sao Nicolau, Sao Vicente, Tarrafal
Independence:5 July 1975 (from Portugal)
National holiday:Independence Day, 5 July (1975)
Constitution:new constitution came into force 25 September 1992; underwent amajor revision on 23 November 1995, substantially increasing thepowers of the president; a 1999 revision created the position ofnational ombudsman (Provedor de Justica)
Legal system:derived from the legal system of Portugal
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Pedro Verona PIRES (since 22 March 2001)head of government: Prime Minister Jose Maria Pereira NEVES (since 1February 2001)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on therecommendation of the prime ministerelections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term(eligible for a second term); election last held 12 February 2006(next to be held February 2011); prime minister nominated by theNational Assembly and appointed by the presidentelection results: Pedro PIRES reelected president; percent of vote -Pedro PIRES (PAICV) 51.2%, Carlos VIEGA (MPD) 48.8%
Legislative branch:unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (72 seats;members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)elections: last held 22 January 2006 (next to be held in January2011)election results: percent of vote by party - PAICV 52.3%, MPD 44%,UCID 2.7%; seats by party - PAICV 41, MPD 29, ADM 2
Judicial branch:Supreme Tribunal of Justice or Supremo Tribunal de Justia
Political parties and leaders:African Party for Independence of Cape Verde or PAICV [Jose MariaPereira NEVES, chairman]; Democratic Alliance for Change or ADM [Dr.Eurico MONTEIRO] (a coalition of PCD, PTS, and UCID); DemocraticChristian Party or PDC [Manuel RODRIGUES, chairman]; DemocraticRenovation Party or PRD [Victor FIDALGO, president]; Democratic andIndependent Cape Verdean Union or UCID [Antonio MONTEIRO]; Movementfor Democracy or MPD [Agostinho LOPES, president]; Party forDemocratic Convergence or PCD [Dr. Eurico MONTEIRO, president];Party of Work and Solidarity or PTS [Isaias RODRIGUES, president];Social Democratic Party or PSD [Joao ALEM, president]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt(signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,IOC, IOM, IPU, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Jose BRITOchancery: 3415 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007telephone: [1] (202) 965-6820FAX: [1] (202) 965-1207consulate(s) general: Boston
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Roger D. PIERCEembassy: Rua Abilio Macedo n6, Praiamailing address: C. P. 201, Praiatelephone: [238] 2-60-89-00FAX: [238] 2-61-13-55
Flag description:three horizontal bands of light blue (top, double width), white(with a horizontal red stripe in the middle third), and light blue;a circle of 10 yellow five-pointed stars is centered on the hoistend of the red stripe and extends into the upper and lower blue bands
Economy Cape Verde
Economy - overview:This island economy suffers from a poor natural resource base,including serious water shortages exacerbated by cycles of long-termdrought. The economy is service-oriented, with commerce, transport,tourism, and public services accounting for 66% of GDP. Althoughnearly 70% of the population lives in rural areas, the share of foodproduction in GDP in 2004 was only 12%, of which fishing accountedfor 1.5%. About 82% of food must be imported. The fishing potential,mostly lobster and tuna, is not fully exploited. Cape Verde annuallyruns a high trade deficit, financed by foreign aid and remittancesfrom emigrants; remittances supplement GDP by more than 20%.Economic reforms are aimed at developing the private sector andattracting foreign investment to diversify the economy. Futureprospects depend heavily on the maintenance of aid flows, theencouragement of tourism, remittances, and the momentum of thegovernment's development program. Cape Verde has been exploringEuropean Union membership in recent years.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$3.129 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$1.128 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:5.5% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$6,000 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 12.1% industry: 21.9% services: 66% (2004 est.)
Labor force:120,600 (1990)
Unemployment rate:21% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line:30% (2000)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):4.7% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):25.5% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget:revenues: $324.6 millionexpenditures: $370.4 million; including capital expenditures of $NA(2006 est.)
Agriculture - products:bananas, corn, beans, sweet potatoes, sugarcane, coffee, peanuts;fish
Industries:food and beverages, fish processing, shoes and garments, saltmining, ship repair
Industrial production growth rate:NA%
Electricity - production:44 million kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:40.92 million kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2004)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - consumption:1,150 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports:NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:NA bbl/day
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Current account balance:$-44.43 million (2006 est.)
Exports:$96.71 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Exports - commodities:fuel, shoes, garments, fish, hides
Exports - partners:Spain 38.2%, Portugal 33.3%, US 9.2%, Morocco 5.4% (2005)
Imports:$495.1 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities:foodstuffs, industrial products, transport equipment, fuels
Imports - partners:Portugal 40.9%, Italy 7.8%, Netherlands 7.2%, Spain 5.5%, Brazil5.3%, France 4.7%, Belgium 4.6% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$166.4 million (2006 est.)
Debt - external:$325 million (2002)
Economic aid - recipient:$136 million (1999)
Currency (code):Cape Verdean escudo (CVE)
Currency code:CVE
Exchange rates:Cape Verdean escudos (CVE) per US dollar - 86.2664 (2006), 88.67(2005), 88.808 (2004), 97.703 (2003), 117.168 (2002)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Cape Verde
Telephones - main lines in use:71,400 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:81,700 (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: effective system, extensive modernization from1996-2000 following partial privatization in 1995domestic: major service provider is Cabo Verde Telecom (CVT); fiberoptic ring, completed in 2001, links all islands providing Internetaccess and ISDN services; cellular service introduced in 1998international: country code - 238; 2 coaxial submarine cables; HFradiotelephone to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau; satellite earth station- 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 0, FM 22 (and 12 low power repeaters), shortwave 0 (2002)
Radios:100,000 (2002 est.)
Television broadcast stations:1 (and 7 repeaters) (2002)
Televisions:15,000 (2002 est.)
Internet country code:.cv
Internet hosts:234 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2002)
Internet users:25,000 (2005)
Transportation Cape Verde
Airports: 7 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 7 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 1 (2006)
Roadways:total: 1,350 kmpaved: 932 kmunpaved: 418 km (2000)
Merchant marine:total: 7 ships (1000 GRT or over) 12,300 GRT/7,726 DWTby type: cargo 2, chemical tanker 1, passenger/cargo 4foreign-owned: 2 (Spain 1, UK 1) (2006)
Ports and terminals:Mindelo, Praia, Tarrafal
Military Cape Verde
Military branches:People's Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARP): Army, Coast Guard(includes maritime air wing)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 84,641females age 18-49: 87,310 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 65,614females age 18-49: 73,662 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$7.18 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:0.7% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Cape Verde
Disputes - international:none
Illicit drugs:used as a transshipment point for illicit drugs moving from LatinAmerica and Asia destined for Western Europe; the lack of awell-developed financial system limits the country's utility as amoney-laundering center
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007
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@Cayman Islands
Introduction Cayman Islands
Background:The Cayman Islands were colonized from Jamaica by the Britishduring the 18th and 19th centuries, and were administered by Jamaicaafter 1863. In 1959, the islands became a territory within theFederation of the West Indies, but when the Federation dissolved in1962, the Cayman Islands chose to remain a British dependency.
Geography Cayman Islands
Location:Caribbean, three island (Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, Little Cayman)group in Caribbean Sea, 240 km south of Cuba and 268 km northwest ofJamaica
Geographic coordinates:19 30 N, 80 30 W
Map references:Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total: 262 sq kmland: 262 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:160 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmexclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical marine; warm, rainy summers (May to October) and cool,relatively dry winters (November to April)
Terrain:low-lying limestone base surrounded by coral reefs
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: The Bluff (Cayman Brac) 43 m
Natural resources: fish, climate and beaches that foster tourism
Land use: arable land: 3.85% permanent crops: 0% other: 96.15% (2005)
Irrigated land:NA
Natural hazards:hurricanes (July to November)
Environment - current issues: no natural fresh water resources; drinking water supplies must be met by rainwater catchments
Geography - note: important location between Cuba and Central America
People Cayman Islands
Population: 45,436 note: most of the population lives on Grand Cayman (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 20.7% (male 4,708/female 4,700)15-64 years: 70.9% (male 15,707/female 16,504)65 years and over: 8.4% (male 1,793/female 2,024) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 37.2 yearsmale: 36.8 yearsfemale: 37.5 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:2.56% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:12.74 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:4.89 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:17.78 migrant(s)/1,000 populationnote: major destination for Cubans trying to migrate to the US (2006est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.02 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 8 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 9.16 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 6.81 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 80.07 yearsmale: 77.45 yearsfemale: 82.74 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.9 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: Caymanian(s)adjective: Caymanian
Ethnic groups:mixed 40%, white 20%, black 20%, expatriates of various ethnicgroups 20%
Religions:United Church (Presbyterian and Congregational), Anglican, Baptist,Church of God, other Protestant, Roman Catholic
Languages:English
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over has ever attended schooltotal population: 98%male: 98%female: 98% (1970 est.)
Government Cayman Islands
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Cayman Islands
Dependency status:overseas territory of the UK
Government type:British crown colony
Capital:name: George Town (on Grand Cayman)geographic coordinates: 19 20 N, 81 23 Wtime difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during StandardTime)
Administrative divisions:8 districts; Creek, Eastern, Midland, South Town, Spot Bay, StakeBay, West End, Western
Independence:none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday:Constitution Day, first Monday in July
Constitution:1959; revised 1962, 1972, and 1994
Legal system:British common law and local statutes
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);Governor Stuart JACK (since 23 November 2005)head of government: Leader of Government Business Kurt TIBBETTS(since 18 May 2005)cabinet: Executive Council (three members appointed by the governor,four members elected by the Legislative Assembly)elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the governor isappointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, theleader of the majority party or coalition is appointed by thegovernor Leader of Government Business
Legislative branch:unicameral Legislative Assembly (18 seats, 3 appointed members fromthe Executive Council and 15 elected by popular vote; members servefour-year terms)elections: last held 11 May 2005 (next to be held in 2009)election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -PPM 9, UDP 5, independent 1
Judicial branch:Summary Court; Grand Court; Cayman Islands Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders:no national teams (loose groupings of political organizations) wereformed for the 2000 elections; United Democratic Party or UDP[leader McKeeva BUSH]; People's Progressive Movement or PPM [leaderKurt TIBBETTS]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UNESCO(associate), UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US:none (overseas territory of the UK)
Flag description:blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant andthe Caymanian coat of arms centered on the outer half of the flag;the coat of arms includes a pineapple and turtle above a shield withthree stars (representing the three islands) and a scroll at thebottom bearing the motto HE HATH FOUNDED IT UPON THE SEAS
Economy Cayman Islands
Economy - overview:With no direct taxation, the islands are a thriving offshorefinancial center. More than 68,000 companies were registered in theCayman Islands as of 2003, including almost 500 banks, 800 insurers,and 5000 mutual funds. A stock exchange was opened in 1997. Tourismis also a mainstay, accounting for about 70% of GDP and 75% offoreign currency earnings. The tourist industry is aimed at theluxury market and caters mainly to visitors from North America.Total tourist arrivals exceeded 2.1 million in 2003, with about halffrom the US. About 90% of the islands' food and consumer goods mustbe imported. The Caymanians enjoy one of the highest outputs percapita and one of the highest standards of living in the world.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$1.939 billion (2004 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):NA
GDP - real growth rate:0.9% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$43,800 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 1.4% industry: 3.2% services: 95.4% (1994 est.)
Labor force: 23,450 (2004)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 1.4% industry: 12.6% services: 86% (1995)
Unemployment rate:4.4% (2004)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):4.4% (2004)
Budget:revenues: $423.8 millionexpenditures: $392.6 million; including capital expenditures of $NA(2004)
Agriculture - products:vegetables, fruit; livestock; turtle farming
Industries:tourism, banking, insurance and finance, construction, constructionmaterials, furniture
Industrial production growth rate:NA%
Electricity - production:400 million kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:372 million kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2004)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - consumption:2,600 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports:NA bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:NA bbl/day (2001)
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Exports:$2.52 million (2004)
Exports - commodities:turtle products, manufactured consumer goods
Exports - partners:mostly US (2004)
Imports:$866.9 million (2004)
Imports - commodities:foodstuffs, manufactured goods
Imports - partners:US, Netherlands Antilles, Japan (2004)
Debt - external:$70 million (1996)
Economic aid - recipient:$390,000 (2004)
Currency (code):Caymanian dollar (KYD)
Currency code:KYD
Exchange rates:Caymanian dollars per US dollar - 0.82 (29 October 2001), 0.83 (3November 1995), 0.85 (22 November 1993)
Fiscal year:1 April - 31 March
Communications Cayman Islands
Telephones - main lines in use:38,000 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:17,000 (2002)
Telephone system:general assessment: reasonably good systemdomestic: liberalization of telecom market in 2003 reflected infalling prices and improving servicesinternational: country code - 1-345; 2 submarine fiber optic cables(Maya-1, Cayman-Jamaica); satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat(Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 0 (2004)
Radios:36,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:4 with cable system (2004)
Televisions:7,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.ky
Internet hosts:8,611 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):16 (2000)
Internet users:9,909 (2003)
Transportation Cayman Islands
Airports: 3 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 21,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 1914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)
Roadways:total: 785 kmpaved: 785 km (2002)
Merchant marine:total: 132 ships (1000 GRT or over) 2,746,290 GRT/4,366,790 DWTby type: bulk carrier 32, cargo 14, chemical tanker 42, liquefiedgas 1, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 14, refrigerated cargo 23, rollon/roll off 3, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 1foreign-owned: 130 (Denmark 5, Germany 13, Greece 21, Italy 12,Japan 1, Malaysia 1, Netherlands 4, Norway 2, Philippines 1,Singapore 10, Sweden 9, UK 10, US 41) (2006)
Ports and terminals:Cayman Brac, George Town
Military Cayman Islands
Military branches:no regular military forces; Royal Cayman Islands Police Force
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 10,703 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 8,600 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 257 (2005 est.)
Military - note:defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues Cayman Islands
Disputes - international:none
Illicit drugs:offshore financial center; vulnerable to drug transshipment to theUS and Europe
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007
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@Central African Republic
Introduction Central African Republic
Background:The former French colony of Ubangi-Shari became the Central AfricanRepublic upon independence in 1960. After three tumultuous decadesof misrule - mostly by military governments - civilian rule wasestablished in 1993 and lasted for one decade. President Ange-FelixPATASSE's civilian government was plagued by unrest, and in March2003 he was deposed in a military coup led by General FrancoisBOZIZE, who established a transitional government. Though thegovernment has the tacit support of civil society groups and themain parties, a wide field of candidates contested the municipal,legislative, and presidential elections held in March and May of2005 in which General BOZIZE was affirmed as president. Thegovernment still does not fully control the countryside, wherepockets of lawlessness persist.
Geography Central African Republic
Location:Central Africa, north of Democratic Republic of the Congo
Geographic coordinates:7 00 N, 21 00 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 622,984 sq kmland: 622,984 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Texas
Land boundaries:total: 5,203 kmborder countries: Cameroon 797 km, Chad 1,197 km, DemocraticRepublic of the Congo 1,577 km, Republic of the Congo 467 km, Sudan1,165 km
Coastline:0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:none (landlocked)
Climate:tropical; hot, dry winters; mild to hot, wet summers
Terrain:vast, flat to rolling, monotonous plateau; scattered hills innortheast and southwest
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Oubangui River 335 mhighest point: Mont Ngaoui 1,420 m
Natural resources:diamonds, uranium, timber, gold, oil, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 3.1% permanent crops: 0.15% other: 96.75% (2005)
Irrigated land:20 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds affect northern areas; floods arecommon
Environment - current issues:tap water is not potable; poaching has diminished the country'sreputation as one of the last great wildlife refuges;desertification; deforestation
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber94, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:landlocked; almost the precise center of Africa
People Central African Republic
Population:4,303,356note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account theeffects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lowerlife expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lowerpopulation and growth rates, and changes in the distribution ofpopulation by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 41.9% (male 907,629/female 897,153)15-64 years: 53.9% (male 1,146,346/female 1,173,268)65 years and over: 4.2% (male 71,312/female 107,648) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 18.4 yearsmale: 18 yearsfemale: 18.8 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:1.53% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:33.91 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:18.65 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 85.63 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 92.44 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 78.61 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 43.54 yearsmale: 43.46 yearsfemale: 43.62 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:4.41 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:13.5% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:260,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:23,000 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:degree of risk: very highfood or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, andtyphoid fevervectorborne disease: malariarespiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2007)
Nationality:noun: Central African(s)adjective: Central African
Ethnic groups:Baya 33%, Banda 27%, Mandjia 13%, Sara 10%, Mboum 7%, M'Baka 4%,Yakoma 4%, other 2%
Religions:indigenous beliefs 35%, Protestant 25%, Roman Catholic 25%, Muslim15%note: animistic beliefs and practices strongly influence theChristian majority
Languages:French (official), Sangho (lingua franca and national language),tribal languages
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 51%male: 63.3%female: 39.9% (2003 est.)
Government Central African Republic
Country name:conventional long form: Central African Republicconventional short form: nonelocal long form: Republique Centrafricainelocal short form: noneformer: Ubangi-Shari, Central African Empireabbreviation: CAR
Government type:republic
Capital:name: Banguigeographic coordinates: 4 22 N, 18 35 Etime difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)
Administrative divisions:14 prefectures (prefectures, singular - prefecture), 2 economicprefectures* (prefectures economiques, singular - prefectureeconomique), and 1 commune**; Bamingui-Bangoran, Bangui**,Basse-Kotto, Haute-Kotto, Haut-Mbomou, Kemo, Lobaye, Mambere-Kadei,Mbomou, Nana-Grebizi*, Nana-Mambere, Ombella-Mpoko, Ouaka, Ouham,Ouham-Pende, Sangha-Mbaere*, Vakaga
Independence:13 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday:Republic Day, 1 December (1958)
Constitution:ratified by popular referendum 5 December 2004; effective 27December 2004
Legal system:based on French law
Suffrage:21 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Francois BOZIZE (since 15 March 2003 coup)head of government: Prime Minister Elie DOTE (since 13 June 2005);note - Celestin GAOMBALET resigned 11 June 2005cabinet: Council of Ministerselections: under the new constitution, the president elected to afive-year term (eligible for a second term); elections last held 13March and 8 May 2005 (next to be held in 2010); prime ministerappointed by the political party with a parliamentary majorityelection results: Francois BOZIZE elected president; percent ofsecond round balloting - Francois BOZIZE (KNK) 64.6%, Martin ZIGUELE(MLPC) 35.4%
Legislative branch:unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (109 seats;members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)elections: last held 13 March 2005 and 8 May 2005 (next to be heldNA 2010)election results: percent of vote by party - MLPC 43%, RDC 18%, MDD9%, FPP 6%, PSD 5%, ADP 4%, PUN 3%, FODEM 2%, PLD 2%, UPR 1%, FC 1%,independents 6%; seats by party - MLPC 47, RDC 20, MDD 8, FPP 7, PSD6, ADP 5, PUN 3, FODEM 2, PLD 2, UPR 1, FC 1, independents 7
Judicial branch:Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; Constitutional Court (3 judgesappointed by the president, 3 by the president of the NationalAssembly, and 3 by fellow judges); Court of Appeal; Criminal Courts;Inferior Courts
Political parties and leaders:Alliance for Democracy and Progress or ADP [Jacques MBOLIEDAS];Central African Democratic Assembly or RDC [Andre KOLINGBA]; CivicForum or FC [Gen. Timothee MALENDOMA]; Democratic Forum forModernity or FODEM [Charles MASSI]; Liberal Democratic Party or PLD[Nestor KOMBO-NAGUEMON]; Movement for Democracy and Development orMDD [David DACKO]; Movement for the Liberation of the CentralAfrican People or MLPC [Ange-Felix PATASSE] (the party of deposedpresident); National Convergence or KNK; Patriotic Front forProgress or FPP [Abel GOUMBA]; People's Union for the Republic orUPR [Pierre Sammy MAKFOY]; National Unity Party or PUN [Jean-PaulNGOUPANDE]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Enoch LAKOUE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ITU,ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIC (observer), OIF, OPCW, OPCW (signatory), UN,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Emmanuel TOUABOYchancery: 1618 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone: [1] (202) 483-7800FAX: [1] (202) 332-9893
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires James PANOS embassy: Avenue David Dacko, Bangui mailing address: B. P. 924, Bangui telephone: [236] 61 02 00 FAX: [236] 61 44 94 note: the embassy is currently operating with a minimal staff
Flag description:four equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, green, and yellowwith a vertical red band in center; there is a yellow five-pointedstar on the hoist side of the blue band