Administrative divisions:23 provinces (sheng, singular and plural), 5 autonomous regions(zizhiqu, singular and plural), and 4 municipalities (shi, singularand plural)provinces: Anhui, Fujian, Gansu, Guangdong, Guizhou, Hainan, Hebei,Heilongjiang, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Jilin,Liaoning, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanxi, Sichuan, Yunnan,Zhejiang; (see note on Taiwan)autonomous regions: Guangxi, Nei Mongol, Ningxia, Xinjiang, Xizang(Tibet)municipalities: Beijing, Chongqing, Shanghai, Tianjinnote: China considers Taiwan its 23rd province; see separate entriesfor the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau
Independence:221 BC (unification under the Qin or Ch'in Dynasty); 1 January 1912(Manchu Dynasty replaced by a Republic); 1 October 1949 (People'sRepublic established)
National holiday:Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China, 1October (1949)
Constitution:most recent promulgation 4 December 1982
Legal system:based on civil law system; derived from Soviet and continentalcivil code legal principles; legislature retains power to interpretstatutes; constitution ambiguous on judicial review of legislation;has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President HU Jintao (since 15 March 2003) and VicePresident ZENG Qinghong (since 15 March 2003)head of government: Premier WEN Jiabao (since 16 March 2003);Executive Vice Premier HUANG Ju (since 17 March 2003), Vice PremiersWU Yi (17 March 2003), ZENG Peiyan (since 17 March 2003), and HUILiangyu (since 17 March 2003)cabinet: State Council appointed by the National People's Congress(NPC)elections: president and vice president elected by the NationalPeople's Congress for a five-year term (eligible for a second term);elections last held 15-17 March 2003 (next to be held mid-March2008); premier nominated by the president, confirmed by the NationalPeople's Congresselection results: HU Jintao elected president by the 10th NationalPeople's Congress with a total of 2,937 votes (four delegates votedagainst him, four abstained, and 38 did not vote); ZENG Qinghongelected vice president by the 10th National People's Congress with atotal of 2,578 votes (177 delegates voted against him, 190abstained, and 38 did not vote); two seats were vacant
Legislative branch:unicameral National People's Congress or Quanguo Renmin DaibiaoDahui (2,985 seats; members elected by municipal, regional, andprovincial people's congresses to serve five-year terms)elections: last held December 2002-February 2003 (next to be heldlate 2007-February 2008)election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - NA
Judicial branch:Supreme People's Court (judges appointed by the National People'sCongress); Local People's Courts (comprise higher, intermediate, andlocal courts); Special People's Courts (primarily military,maritime, and railway transport courts)
Political parties and leaders:Chinese Communist Party or CCP [HU Jintao]; eight registered smallparties controlled by CCP
Political pressure groups and leaders:no substantial political opposition groups exist, although thegovernment has identified the Falungong spiritual movement and theChina Democracy Party as subversive groups
International organization participation:AfDB, APEC, APT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue partner), BCIE, BIS,CDB, EAS, FAO, G-24 (observer), G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM,IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM(observer), IPU, ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC,NAM (observer), NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, PCA, PIF (partner), SAARC(observer), SCO, UN, UN Security Council, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNMOVIC, UNOCI, UNTSO,UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador ZHOU Wenzhong chancery: 2300 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 328-2500 FAX: [1] (202) 328-2582 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Clark T. RANDT, Jr. embassy: Xiu Shui Bei Jie 3, 100600 Beijing mailing address: PSC 461, Box 50, FPO AP 96521-0002 telephone: [86] (10) 6532-3831 FAX: [86] (10) 6532-3178 consulate(s) general: Chengdu, Guangzhou, Hong Kong and Macau, Shanghai, Shenyang
Flag description:red with a large yellow five-pointed star and four smaller yellowfive-pointed stars (arranged in a vertical arc toward the middle ofthe flag) in the upper hoist-side corner
Economy China
Economy - overview: China's economy during the last quarter century has changed from a centrally planned system that was largely closed to international trade to a more market-oriented economy that has a rapidly growing private sector and is a major player in the global economy. Reforms started in the late 1970s with the phasing out of collectivized agriculture, and expanded to include the gradual liberalization of prices, fiscal decentralization, increased autonomy for state enterprises, the foundation of a diversified banking system, the development of stock markets, the rapid growth of the non-state sector, and the opening to foreign trade and investment. China has generally implemented reforms in a gradualist or piecemeal fashion, including the sale of equity in China's largest state banks to foreign investors and refinements in foreign exchange and bond markets in 2005. The restructuring of the economy and resulting efficiency gains have contributed to a more than tenfold increase in GDP since 1978. Measured on a purchasing power parity (PPP) basis, China in 2006 stood as the second-largest economy in the world after the US, although in per capita terms the country is still lower middle-income and 130 million Chinese fall below international poverty lines. Economic development has generally been more rapid in coastal provinces than in the interior, and there are large disparities in per capita income between regions. The government has struggled to: (a) sustain adequate job growth for tens of millions of workers laid off from state-owned enterprises, migrants, and new entrants to the work force; (b) reduce corruption and other economic crimes; and (c) contain environmental damage and social strife related to the economy's rapid transformation. From 100 to 150 million surplus rural workers are adrift between the villages and the cities, many subsisting through part-time, low-paying jobs. One demographic consequence of the "one child" policy is that China is now one of the most rapidly aging countries in the world. Another long-term threat to growth is the deterioration in the environment - notably air pollution, soil erosion, and the steady fall of the water table, especially in the north. China continues to lose arable land because of erosion and economic development. China has benefited from a huge expansion in computer Internet use, with more than 100 million users at the end of 2005. Foreign investment remains a strong element in China's remarkable expansion in world trade and has been an important factor in the growth of urban jobs. In July 2005, China revalued its currency by 2.1% against the US dollar and moved to an exchange rate system that references a basket of currencies. In 2006 China had the largest current account surplus - nearly $180 billion - in the world. More power generating capacity came on line in 2006 as large scale investments were completed. Thirteen years in construction at a cost of $24 billion, the immense Three Gorges Dam across the Yangtze River was essentially completed in 2006 and will revolutionize electrification and flood control in the area. The 11th Five-Year Program (2006-10), approved by the National People's Congress in March 2006, calls for a 20% reduction in energy consumption per unit of GDP by 2010 and an estimated 45% increase in GDP by 2010. The plan states that conserving resources and protecting the environment are basic goals, but it lacks details on the policies and reforms necessary to achieve these goals.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$10 trillion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$2.512 trillion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:10.5% (official data) (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$7,600 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 11.9% industry: 48.1% services: 40% note: industry includes construction (2006 est.)
Labor force: 798 million (2006 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 45% industry: 24% services: 31% (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate:4.2% official registered unemployment in urban areas in 2005;substantial unemployment and underemployment in rural areas
Population below poverty line:10% (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.8% highest 10%: 33.1% (2001)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:44 (2002)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):1.5% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):44.3% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget:revenues: $446.6 billionexpenditures: $489.6 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA(2006 est.)
Public debt:22.1% of GDP (2006 est.)
Agriculture - products:rice, wheat, potatoes, corn, peanuts, tea, millet, barley, apples,cotton, oilseed; pork; fish
Industries:mining and ore processing, iron, steel, aluminum, and other metals,coal; machine building; armaments; textiles and apparel; petroleum;cement; chemicals; fertilizers; consumer products, includingfootwear, toys, and electronics; food processing; transportationequipment, including automobiles, rail cars and locomotives, ships,and aircraft; telecommunications equipment, commercial space launchvehicles, satellites
Industrial production growth rate:22.9% (2006 est.)
Electricity - production:2.5 trillion kWh (2005)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 80.2% hydro: 18.5% nuclear: 1.2% other: 0.1% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:2.494 trillion kWh (2005)
Electricity - exports:11.2 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports:5 billion kWh (2005)
Oil - production:3.631 million bbl/day (2005)
Oil - consumption:6.534 million bbl/day (2005)
Oil - exports:443,300 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - imports:3.181 million bbl/day (2005)
Oil - proved reserves:16.1 billion bbl (2006 est.)
Natural gas - production:52.88 billion cu m (2005)
Natural gas - consumption:47.91 billion cu m (2005)
Natural gas - exports:2.79 billion cu m (2005)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2005)
Natural gas - proved reserves:2.35 trillion cu m (2005 est.)
Current account balance:$179.1 billion (2006 est.)
Exports:$974 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Exports - commodities:machinery and equipment, plastics, optical and medical equipment,iron and steel
Exports - partners:US 21.4%, Hong Kong 16.3%, Japan 11%, South Korea 4.6%, Germany4.3% (2005)
Imports:$777.9 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment, oil and mineral fuels, plastics, opticaland medical equipment, organic chemicals, iron and steel
Imports - partners:Japan 15.2%, South Korea 11.6%, Taiwan 11.2%, US 7.4%, Germany 4.6%(2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$1.034 trillion (2006 est.)
Debt - external:$305.6 billion (2006 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$NA
Currency (code):yuan (CNY); note - also referred to as the Renminbi (RMB)
Currency code:CNY
Exchange rates:yuan per US dollar - 7.97 (2006), 8.1943 (2005), 8.2768 (2004),8.277 (2003), 8.277 (2002)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications China
Telephones - main lines in use:350.433 million (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:437.48 million (2006)
Telephone system:general assessment: domestic and international services areincreasingly available for private use; unevenly distributeddomestic system serves principal cities, industrial centers, andmany towns; China continues to develop its telecommunicationsinfrastructure, and is partnering with foreign providers to expandits global reach; three of China's six major telecommunicationsoperators are part of an international consortium which, in December2006, signed an agreement with Verizon Business to build the firstnext-generation optical cable system directly linking the USmainland and Chinadomestic: interprovincial fiber-optic trunk lines and cellulartelephone systems have been installed; mobile cellularsubscribership is increasing rapidly; a domestic satellite systemwith 55 earth stations is in placeinternational: country code - 86; satellite earth stations - 5Intelsat (4 Pacific Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), 1 Intersputnik(Indian Ocean region) and 1 Inmarsat (Pacific and Indian Oceanregions); several international fiber-optic links to Japan, SouthKorea, Hong Kong, Russia, and Germany (2000)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 369, FM 259, shortwave 45 (1998)
Radios:417 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 3,240 (of which 209 are operated by China Central Television, 31 are provincial TV stations, and nearly 3,000 are local city stations) (1997)
Televisions:400 million (1997)
Internet country code:.cn
Internet hosts:232,780 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):3 (2000)
Internet users:123 million (2006)
Transportation China
Airports: 486 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 403over 3,047 m: 562,438 to 3,047 m: 1271,524 to 2,437 m: 138914 to 1,523 m: 22under 914 m: 60 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 83over 3,047 m: 42,438 to 3,047 m: 21,524 to 2,437 m: 13914 to 1,523 m: 25under 914 m: 39 (2006)
Heliports:32 (2006)
Pipelines:gas 22,664 km; oil 15,256 km; refined products 6,106 km (2006)
Railways:total: 74,408 kmstandard gauge: 74,408 km 1.435-m gauge (19,303 km electrified)(2004)
Roadways:total: 1,870,661 kmpaved: 1,515,797 km (with at least 34,288 km of expressways)unpaved: 354,864 km (2004)
Waterways:123,964 km (2003)
Merchant marine:total: 1,723 ships (1000 GRT or over) 21,405,633 GRT/32,411,260 DWTby type: barge carrier 2, bulk carrier 387, cargo 695, chemicaltanker 45, combination ore/oil 1, container 152, liquefied gas 31,passenger 8, passenger/cargo 83, petroleum tanker 261, refrigeratedcargo 30, roll on/roll off 8, specialized tanker 6, vehicle carrier14foreign-owned: 13 (Hong Kong 7, Japan 3, South Korea 2, Norway 1)registered in other countries: 1,191 (Bahamas 3, Bangladesh 1,Belize 103, Bolivia 1, Cambodia 128, Cyprus 11, Georgia 2, Honduras3, Hong Kong 274, India 2, North Korea 1, Liberia 35, Malaysia 1,Malta 14, Mongolia 4, Norway 3, Panama 420, Saint Vincent and theGrenadines 103, Sierra Leone 2, Singapore 23, Thailand 1, Tuvalu 23,unknown 33) (2006)
Ports and terminals:Dalian, Guangzhou, Nanjing, Ningbo, Qingdao, Qinhuangdao, Shanghai
Military China
Military branches:People's Liberation Army (PLA): Ground Forces, Navy (includesmarines and naval aviation), Air Force (includes airborne forces),and Second Artillery Corps (strategic missile force); People's ArmedPolice (PAP); Reserve and Militia Forces (2006)
Military service age and obligation:18-22 years of age for compulsory military service, with 24-monthservice obligation; no minimum age for voluntary service (allofficers are volunteers); 18-22 years of age for women who meetrequirements for specific military jobs (2006)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 342,956,265females age 18-49: 324,701,244 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 281,240,272females age 18-49: 269,025,517 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 13,186,433females age 18-49: 12,298,149 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$81.48 billion (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:4.3% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues China
Disputes - international:in 2005, China and India began drafting principles to resolve allaspects of their extensive boundary and territorial disputestogether with a security and foreign policy dialogue to consolidatediscussions related to the boundary, regional nuclear proliferation,and other matters; recent talks and confidence-building measureshave begun to defuse tensions over Kashmir, site of the world'slargest and most militarized territorial dispute with portions underthe de facto administration of China (Aksai Chin), India (Jammu andKashmir), and Pakistan (Azad Kashmir and Northern Areas); India doesnot recognize Pakistan's ceding historic Kashmir lands to China in1964; about 90,000 ethnic Tibetan exiles reside primarily in Indiaas well as Nepal and Bhutan; China asserts sovereignty over theSpratly Islands together with Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan,Vietnam, and possibly Brunei; the 2002 "Declaration on the Conductof Parties in the South China Sea" has eased tensions in theSpratlys but is not the legally binding "code of conduct" sought bysome parties; Vietnam and China continue to expand construction offacilities in the Spratlys and in March 2005, the national oilcompanies of China, the Philippines, and Vietnam signed a jointaccord on marine seismic activities in the Spratly Islands; Chinaoccupies some of the Paracel Islands also claimed by Vietnam andTaiwan; China and Taiwan have become more vocal in rejecting bothJapan's claims to the uninhabited islands of Senkaku-shoto (DiaoyuTai) and Japan's unilaterally declared equidistance line in the EastChina Sea, the site of intensive hydrocarbon prospecting; certainislands in the Yalu and Tumen rivers are in an uncontested disputewith North Korea and a section of boundary around Mount Paektu isconsidered indefinite; China seeks to stem illegal migration of tensof thousands of North Koreans; China and Russia prepare to demarcatethe boundary agreed to in October 2004 between the long-disputedislands at the Amur and Ussuri; demarcation of the China-Vietnamboundary proceeds slowly and although the maritime boundarydelimitation and fisheries agreements were ratified in June 2004,implementation has been delayed; environmentalists in Burma andThailand remain concerned about China's construction ofhydroelectric dams upstream on the Nujiang/Salween River in YunnanProvince
Refugees and internally displaced persons:refugees (country of origin): 300,897 (Vietnam) estimated30,000-50,000 (North Korea)IDPs: 90,000 (2006)
Trafficking in persons:current situation: China is a source, transit, and destinationcountry for women, men, and children trafficked for purposes ofsexual exploitation and forced labor; the majority of trafficking inChina is internal, but there is also international trafficking ofChinese citizens; women are lured through false promises oflegitimate employment into commercial sexual exploitation in Taiwan,Thailand, Malaysia, and Japan; Chinese men and women are smuggled tocountries throughout the world at enormous personal expense and thenforced into commercial sexual exploitation or exploitative labor torepay debts to traffickers; women and children are trafficked intoChina from Mongolia, Burma, North Korea, Russia, and Vietnam forforced labor, marriage, and sexual slavery; most North Koreans enternortheastern China voluntarily, but others reportedly are traffickedinto China from North Korea; domestic trafficking remains the mostsignificant problem in China, with an estimated minimum of10,000-20,000 victims trafficked each year; the actual number ofvictims could be much greater; some experts believe that the seriousand prolonged imbalance in the male-female birth ratio may now becontributing to Chinese and foreign girls and women being traffickedas potential bridestier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - China failed to show evidence ofincreasing efforts to address transnational trafficking; while thegovernment provides reasonable protection to internal victims oftrafficking, protection for Chinese and foreign victims oftransnational trafficking remain inadequate
Illicit drugs:major transshipment point for heroin produced in the GoldenTriangle; growing domestic drug abuse problem; source country forchemical precursors and methamphetamine
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007
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@Christmas Island
Introduction Christmas Island
Background:Named in 1643 for the day of its discovery, the island was annexedand settlement began by the UK in 1888. Phosphate mining began inthe 1890s. The UK transferred sovereignty to Australia in 1958.Almost two-thirds of the island has been declared a national park.
Geography Christmas Island
Location:Southeastern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia
Geographic coordinates:10 30 S, 105 40 E
Map references:Southeast Asia
Area:total: 135 sq kmland: 135 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:about three-quarters the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:138.9 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmcontiguous zone: 12 nmexclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical with a wet and dry season; heat and humidity moderated bytrade winds; wet season (December to April)
Terrain:steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Murray Hill 361 m
Natural resources:phosphate, beaches
Land use:arable land: 0%permanent crops: 0%other: 100% (mainly tropical rainforest; 63% of the island is anational park) (2005)
Irrigated land:NA
Natural hazards:the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritimehazard
Environment - current issues:loss of rainforest; impact of phosphate mining
Geography - note:located along major sea lanes of Indian Ocean
People Christmas Island
Population: 1,493 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:0% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:NA
Death rate:NA
Net migration rate:NA
Sex ratio:NA
Infant mortality rate:total: NAmale: NAfemale: NA
Life expectancy at birth:total population: NAmale: NAfemale: NA
Total fertility rate:NA
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality:noun: Christmas Islander(s)adjective: Christmas Island
Ethnic groups:Chinese 70%, European 20%, Malay 10%note: no indigenous population (2001)
Religions:Buddhist 36%, Muslim 25%, Christian 18%, other 21% (1997)
Languages:English (official), Chinese, Malay
Literacy:NA
Government Christmas Island
Country name:conventional long form: Territory of Christmas Islandconventional short form: Christmas Island
Dependency status:non-self governing territory of Australia; administered by theAustralian Department of Transport and Regional Services
Government type:NA
Capital:name: The Settlementgeographic coordinates: 18 44 N, 64 19 Wtime difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)
Administrative divisions:none (territory of Australia)
Independence:none (territory of Australia)
National holiday:Australia Day, 26 January (1788)
Constitution:Christmas Island Act of 1958-59 (1 October 1958) as amended by theTerritories Law Reform Act of 1992
Legal system:under the authority of the governor general of Australia andAustralian law
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),represented by the Australian governor generalhead of government: Administrator Neil LUCAS (since 30 January 2006)elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointedby the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch andAustralia
Legislative branch:unicameral Christmas Island Shire Council (9 seats; members electedby popular vote to serve four-year terms)elections: held every two years with half the members standing forelection; last held in May 2005 (next to be held in May 2007)election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 9
Judicial branch:Supreme Court; District Court; Magistrate's Court
Political parties and leaders:none
Political pressure groups and leaders:none
International organization participation:none
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (territory of Australia)
Diplomatic representation from the US:none (territory of Australia)
Flag description:territorial flag; divided diagonally from upper hoist to lower fly;the upper triangle is green with a yellow image of the Golden BosunBird superimposed, while the lower triangle is blue with theSouthern Cross constellation, representing Australia, superimposed;a centered yellow disk displays a green map of the island; the flagof Australia is used for official purposes
Economy Christmas Island
Economy - overview:Phosphate mining had been the only significant economic activity,but in December 1987 the Australian Government closed the mine. In1991, the mine was reopened. With the support of the government, a$34 million casino opened in 1993. The casino closed in 1998. TheAustralian Government in 2001 agreed to support the creation of acommercial space-launching site on the island, projected to beginoperations in the near future.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$NA
Labor force:NA
Budget:revenues: $NAexpenditures: $NA
Agriculture - products:NA
Industries:tourism, phosphate extraction (near depletion)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: NA hydro: NA nuclear: NA other: NA
Exports:$NA
Exports - commodities:phosphate
Exports - partners:Australia, NZ (2004)
Imports:$NA
Imports - commodities:consumer goods
Imports - partners:principally Australia (2004)
Economic aid - recipient:$NA
Currency (code):Australian dollar (AUD)
Currency code:AUD
Exchange rates:Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.3095 (2005), 1.3598 (2004),1.5419 (2003), 1.8406 (2002)
Fiscal year:1 July - 30 June
Communications Christmas Island
Telephones - main lines in use:NA
Telephones - mobile cellular:NA
Telephone system:general assessment: service provided by the Australian networkdomestic: GSM mobile telephone service replaced older analog systemin February 2005international: country code - 61-8; satellite earth stations - oneINTELSAT earth station provides telephone and telex service (2005)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (2006)
Radios:1,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:0; note - TV broadcasts received via satellite from mainlandAustralia (2006)
Televisions:600 (1997)
Internet country code:.cx
Internet hosts:2,368 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):2 (2000)
Internet users:464 (2001)
Transportation Christmas Island
Airports: 1 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)
Roadways: total: 142 km paved: 32 km unpaved: 110 km (2006)
Ports and terminals:Flying Fish Cove
Military Christmas Island
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of Australia
Transnational Issues Christmas Island
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007
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@Clipperton Island
Introduction Clipperton Island
Background:This isolated island was named for John CLIPPERTON, a pirate whomade it his hideout early in the 18th century. Annexed by France in1855, it was seized by Mexico in 1897. Arbitration eventuallyawarded the island to France, which took possession in 1935.
Geography Clipperton Island
Location:Middle America, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, 1,120 kmsouthwest of Mexico
Geographic coordinates:10 17 N, 109 13 W
Map references:Political Map of the World
Area:total: 6 sq kmland: 6 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:about 12 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:11.1 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical; humid, average temperature 20-32 degrees C, wet season(May to October)
Terrain:coral atoll
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Rocher Clipperton 29 m
Natural resources: fish
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (all coral) (2005)
Irrigated land:0 sq km
Natural hazards:NA
Environment - current issues:NA
Geography - note:reef 12 km in circumference
People Clipperton Island
Population: uninhabited (July 2006 est.)
Government Clipperton Island
Country name:conventional long form: noneconventional short form: Clipperton Islandlocal long form: nonelocal short form: Ile Clippertonformer: sometimes called Ile de la Passion
Dependency status:possession of France; administered by France from French Polynesiaby a high commissioner of the Republic
Legal system:the laws of France, where applicable, apply
Flag description:the flag of France is used
Economy Clipperton Island
Economy - overview:Although 115 species of fish have been identified in theterritorial waters of Clipperton Island, the only economic activityis tuna fishing.
Transportation Clipperton Island
Ports and terminals: none; offshore anchorage only
Military Clipperton Island
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues Clipperton Island
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007
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@Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Introduction Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Background:There are 27 coral islands in the group. Captain William KEELINGdiscovered the islands in 1609, but they remained uninhabited untilthe 19th century. Annexed by the UK in 1857, they were transferredto the Australian Government in 1955. The population on the twoinhabited islands generally is split between the ethnic Europeans onWest Island and the ethnic Malays on Home Island.
Geography Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Location:Southeastern Asia, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, southwestof Indonesia, about halfway from Australia to Sri Lanka
Geographic coordinates:12 30 S, 96 50 E
Map references:Southeast Asia
Area:total: 14 sq kmland: 14 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmnote: includes the two main islands of West Island and Home Island
Area - comparative:about 24 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:26 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmexclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical with high humidity, moderated by the southeast trade windsfor about nine months of the year
Terrain:flat, low-lying coral atolls
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 5 m
Natural resources: fish
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2005)
Irrigated land:NA
Natural hazards:cyclone season is October to April
Environment - current issues: fresh water resources are limited to rainwater accumulations in natural underground reservoirs
Geography - note: islands are thickly covered with coconut palms and other vegetation
People Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Population: 574 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:0% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:NA
Death rate:NA deaths/1,000 population
Net migration rate:NA
Infant mortality rate:total: NAmale: NAfemale: NA
Life expectancy at birth:total population: NAmale: NAfemale: NA
Total fertility rate:NA
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality:noun: Cocos Islander(s)adjective: Cocos Islander
Ethnic groups:Europeans, Cocos Malays
Religions:Sunni Muslim 80%, other 20% (2002 est.)
Languages:Malay (Cocos dialect), English
Literacy:NA
Government Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Country name:conventional long form: Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islandsconventional short form: Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Dependency status:non-self governing territory of Australia; administered fromCanberra by the Australian Department of Transport and RegionalServices
Government type:NA
Capital:name: West Islandgeographic coordinates: 12 10 S, 96 55 Etime difference: UTC+6.5 (11.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)
Administrative divisions:none (territory of Australia)
Independence:none (territory of Australia)
National holiday:Australia Day, 26 January (1788)
Constitution:Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act of 1955 (23 November 1955) as amendedby the Territories Law Reform Act of 1992
Legal system:based upon the laws of Australia and local laws
Suffrage:NA
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),represented by the Australian governor generalhead of government: Administrator (nonresident) Neil LUCAS (since 30January 2006)cabinet: NAelections: none; the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointedby the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch andAustralia
Legislative branch:unicameral Cocos (Keeling) Islands Shire Council (7 seats)elections: held every two years with half the members standing forelection; last held in May 2005 (next to be held in May 2007)
Judicial branch:Supreme Court; Magistrate's Court
Political parties and leaders:none
Political pressure groups and leaders:none
International organization participation:none
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (territory of Australia)
Diplomatic representation from the US:none (territory of Australia)
Flag description:the flag of Australia is used
Economy Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Economy - overview:Grown throughout the islands, coconuts are the sole cash crop.Small local gardens and fishing contribute to the food supply, butadditional food and most other necessities must be imported fromAustralia. There is a small tourist industry.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$NA
Labor force:NA
Labor force - by occupation: note: the Cocos Islands Cooperative Society Ltd. employs construction workers, stevedores, and lighterage workers; tourism employs others
Unemployment rate: 60% (2000 est.)
Budget: revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA
Agriculture - products:vegetables, bananas, pawpaws, coconuts
Industries:copra products and tourism
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: NA hydro: NA nuclear: NA other: NA
Exports:$NA
Exports - commodities:copra
Exports - partners:Australia (2004)
Imports:$NA
Imports - commodities:foodstuffs
Imports - partners:Australia (2004)
Economic aid - recipient:$NA
Currency (code):Australian dollar (AUD)
Currency code:AUD
Exchange rates:Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.3095 (2005), 1.3598 (2004),1.5419 (2003), 1.8406 (2002)
Fiscal year:1 July - 30 June
Communications Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Telephones - main lines in use:287 (1992)
Telephones - mobile cellular:note - analog cellular service available
Telephone system:general assessment: connected within Australia's telecommunicationsystemdomestic: NAinternational: country code - 61; telephone, telex, and facsimilecommunications with Australia and elsewhere via satellite; 1INTELSAT satellite earth station
Radio broadcast stations:AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (2004)
Radios:300 (1992)
Television broadcast stations:NA
Televisions:NA
Internet country code:.cc
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):2 (2000)
Internet users:NA
Transportation Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Airports: 1 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)
Roadways: total: 22 km paved: 10 km unpaved: 12 km (2006)
Ports and terminals:Port Refuge
Military Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Military - note:defense is the responsibility of Australia; the territory has afive-person police force
Transnational Issues Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007
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@Colombia
Introduction Colombia
Background:Colombia was one of the three countries that emerged from thecollapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others are Ecuador andVenezuela). A 40-year conflict between government forces andanti-government insurgent groups and illegal paramilitary groups -both heavily funded by the drug trade - escalated during the 1990s.The insurgents lack the military or popular support necessary tooverthrow the government, and violence has been decreasing sinceabout 2002, but insurgents continue attacks against civilians andlarge swaths of the countryside are under guerrilla influence.Paramilitary groups challenge the insurgents for control ofterritory and the drug trade. Most paramilitary members havedemobilized since 2002 in an ongoing peace process, although theircommitment to ceasing illicit activity is unclear. The ColombianGovernment has stepped up efforts to reassert government controlthroughout the country, and now has a presence in every one of itsmunicipalities. However, neighboring countries worry about theviolence spilling over their borders.
Geography Colombia
Location:Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Panamaand Venezuela, and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, betweenEcuador and Panama
Geographic coordinates:4 00 N, 72 00 W
Map references:South America
Area:total: 1,138,910 sq kmland: 1,038,700 sq kmwater: 100,210 sq kmnote: includes Isla de Malpelo, Roncador Cay, and Serrana Bank
Area - comparative:slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Land boundaries:total: 6,309 kmborder countries: Brazil 1,644 km, Ecuador 590 km, Panama 225 km,Peru 1,800 km, Venezuela 2,050 km
Coastline:3,208 km (Caribbean Sea 1,760 km, North Pacific Ocean 1,448 km)
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:tropical along coast and eastern plains; cooler in highlands
Terrain:flat coastal lowlands, central highlands, high Andes Mountains,eastern lowland plains
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 mhighest point: Pico Cristobal Colon 5,775 mnote: nearby Pico Simon Bolivar also has the same elevation
Natural resources:petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, nickel, gold, copper,emeralds, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 2.01% permanent crops: 1.37% other: 96.62% (2005)
Irrigated land:9,000 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:highlands subject to volcanic eruptions; occasional earthquakes;periodic droughts
Environment - current issues: deforestation; soil and water quality damage from overuse of pesticides; air pollution, especially in Bogota, from vehicle emissions
Environment - international agreements: party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:only South American country with coastlines on both the NorthPacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea
People Colombia
Population:43,593,035 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 30.3% (male 6,683,079/female 6,528,563)15-64 years: 64.5% (male 13,689,384/female 14,416,439)65 years and over: 5.2% (male 996,022/female 1,279,548) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 26.3 yearsmale: 25.4 yearsfemale: 27.2 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:1.46% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:20.48 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:5.58 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:-0.3 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: 0.78 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 20.35 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 24.25 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 16.31 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 71.99 yearsmale: 68.15 yearsfemale: 75.96 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.54 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.7% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:190,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:3,600 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Colombian(s)adjective: Colombian
Ethnic groups:mestizo 58%, white 20%, mulatto 14%, black 4%, mixedblack-Amerindian 3%, Amerindian 1%
Religions:Roman Catholic 90%, other 10%
Languages:Spanish
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 92.5%male: 92.4%female: 92.6% (2003 est.)
Government Colombia
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Colombiaconventional short form: Colombialocal long form: Republica de Colombialocal short form: Colombia
Government type:republic; executive branch dominates government structure
Capital:name: Bogotageographic coordinates: 4 36 N, 74 05 Wtime difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during StandardTime)
Administrative divisions:32 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) and 1capital district* (distrito capital); Amazonas, Antioquia, Arauca,Atlantico, Bogota*, Bolivar, Boyaca, Caldas, Caqueta, Casanare,Cauca, Cesar, Choco, Cordoba, Cundinamarca, Guainia, Guaviare,Huila, La Guajira, Magdalena, Meta, Narino, Norte de Santander,Putumayo, Quindio, Risaralda, San Andres y Providencia, Santander,Sucre, Tolima, Valle del Cauca, Vaupes, Vichada
Independence:20 July 1810 (from Spain)
National holiday:Independence Day, 20 July (1810)
Constitution:5 July 1991
Legal system:based on Spanish law; a new criminal code modeled after USprocedures was enacted into law in 2004 and is gradually beingimplemented; judicial review of executive and legislative acts
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Alvaro URIBE Velez (since 7 August 2002);Vice President Francisco SANTOS (since 7 August 2002); note - thepresident is both the chief of state and head of governmenthead of government: President Alvaro URIBE Velez (since 7 August2002); Vice President Francisco SANTOS (since 7 August 2002)cabinet: Cabinet consists of a coalition of the three largestparties that supported President URIBE's reelection - the PSUN, PC,and CR - and independentselections: president and vice president elected by popular vote fora four-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 28May 2006 (next to be held in May 2010)election results: President Alvaro URIBE Velez reelected president;percent of vote - Alvaro URIBE Velez 62%, Carlos GAVIRIA Diaz 22%,Horacio SERPA Uribe 12%, other 4%
Legislative branch:bicameral Congress or Congreso consists of the Senate or Senado(102 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-yearterms) and the House of Representatives or Camara de Representantes(166 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-yearterms)elections: Senate - last held 12 March 2006 (next to be held inMarch 2010); House of Representatives - last held 12 March 2006(next to be held in March 2010)election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats byparty - PSUN 20, PC 18, PL 18, CR 15, PDI 10, other parties 21;House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats byparty - PL 35, PSUN 33, PC 29, CR 20, PDA 8, other parties 41
Judicial branch:four roughly coequal, supreme judicial organs; Supreme Court ofJustice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (highest court of criminal law;judges are selected by their peers from the nominees of the SuperiorJudicial Council for eight-year terms); Council of State (highestcourt of administrative law; judges are selected from the nomineesof the Superior Judicial Council for eight-year terms);Constitutional Court (guards integrity and supremacy of theconstitution; rules on constitutionality of laws, amendments to theconstitution, and international treaties); Superior Judicial Council(administers and disciplines the civilian judiciary; resolvesjurisdictional conflicts arising between other courts; members areelected by three sister courts and Congress for eight-year terms)
Political parties and leaders:Colombian Conservative Party or PC [Julio MANZUR Abdala];Alternative Democratic Pole or PDA [Samuel MORENO Rojas]; LiberalParty or PL [Cesar GAVIRIA Trujillo]; Social National Unity Party orPSUN [Carlos GARCIA]; Radical Change or CR [German VARGAS Lleras]note: Colombia has 15 formally recognized political parties, andnumerous unofficial parties that did not meet the vote threshold inthe March 2006 legislative elections required for recognition
Political pressure groups and leaders:two largest insurgent groups active in Colombia - RevolutionaryArmed Forces of Colombia or FARC and National Liberation Army or ELN
International organization participation:BCIE, CAN, CDB, CSN, FAO, G-3, G-15, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD,ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur(associate), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Carolina BARCO Isakson chancery: 2118 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 387-8338 FAX: [1] (202) 232-8643 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico), Washington, DC
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador William B. WOOD embassy: Calle 22D-BIS, numbers 47-51, Apartado Aereo 3831 mailing address: Carrera 45 #22D-45, Bogota, D.C., APO AA 34038 telephone: [57] (1) 315-0811 FAX: [57] (1) 315-2197
Flag description:three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double-width), blue, andred; similar to the flag of Ecuador, which is longer and bears theEcuadorian coat of arms superimposed in the center
Economy Colombia
Economy - overview:Colombia's economy has experienced positive growth over the pastthree years despite a serious armed conflict. The economy continuesto improve in part because of austere government budgets, focusedefforts to reduce public debt levels, an export-oriented growthstrategy, an improved security situation in the country, and highcommodity prices. Ongoing economic problems facing President URIBErange from reforming the pension system to reducing highunemployment, and to achieving congressional passage of a fiscaltransfers reform. New exploration is needed to offset declining oilproduction. International and domestic financial analysts note withconcern the growing central government deficit, which hovers at 5%of GDP. However, the government's economic policy and democraticsecurity strategy have engendered a growing sense of confidence inthe economy, particularly within the business sector.