Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:159.3 million kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2004)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:1,800 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:$40 million (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:bananas, cocoa, nutmeg, fruit and vegetables, clothing, mace
Exports - partners:Saint Lucia 12.2%, US 11.4%, Antigua and Barbuda 8.3%, Germany 8%,Netherlands 7.9%, Saint Kitts & Nevis 7.4%, Dominica 7.4%, UK 6.8%,France 4.2% (2005)
Imports:$276 million (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:food, manufactured goods, machinery, chemicals, fuel
Imports - partners:Trinidad and Tobago 27.6%, US 26.8%, UK 5.9% (2005)
Debt - external:$347 million (2004)
Economic aid - recipient:$15.4 million (2004)
Currency (code):East Caribbean dollar (XCD)
Currency code:XCD
Exchange rates:East Caribbean dollars per US dollar - 2.7 (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7(2003), 2.7 (2002)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Grenada
Telephones - main lines in use:32,700 (2004)
Telephones - mobile cellular:43,300 (2004)
Telephone system:general assessment: automatic, islandwide telephone systemdomestic: interisland VHF and UHF radiotelephone linksinternational: country code - 1-473; new SHF radiotelephone links toTrinidad and Tobago and Saint Vincent; VHF and UHF radio links toTrinidad
Radio broadcast stations:AM 2, FM 13, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:57,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:2 (1997)
Televisions:33,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.gd
Internet hosts:17 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):14 (2000)
Internet users:19,000 (2005)
Transportation Grenada
Airports:3 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 32,438 to 3,047 m: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 1under 914 m: 1 (2006)
Roadways:total: 1,127 kmpaved: 687 kmunpaved: 440 km (1999)
Ports and terminals:Saint George's
Military Grenada
Military branches:no regular military forces; Royal Grenada Police Force
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 24,031 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 17,483 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 1,274 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:NA
Transnational Issues Grenada
Disputes - international:none
Illicit drugs:small-scale cannabis cultivation; lesser transshipment point formarijuana and cocaine to US
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007
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@Guam
Introduction Guam
Background:Guam was ceded to the US by Spain in 1898. Captured by the Japanesein 1941, it was retaken by the US three years later. The militaryinstallation on the island is one of the most strategicallyimportant US bases in the Pacific.
Geography Guam
Location:Oceania, island in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters ofthe way from Hawaii to the Philippines
Geographic coordinates:13 28 N, 144 47 E
Map references:Oceania
Area:total: 541.3 sq kmland: 541.3 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:three times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:125.5 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical marine; generally warm and humid, moderated by northeasttrade winds; dry season (January to June), rainy season (July toDecember); little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain:volcanic origin, surrounded by coral reefs; relatively flatcoralline limestone plateau (source of most fresh water), with steepcoastal cliffs and narrow coastal plains in north, low hills incenter, mountains in south
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Lamlam 406 m
Natural resources: fishing (largely undeveloped), tourism (especially from Japan)
Land use: arable land: 3.64% permanent crops: 18.18% other: 78.18% (2005)
Irrigated land:NA
Natural hazards:frequent squalls during rainy season; relatively rare, butpotentially very destructive typhoons (June - December)
Environment - current issues:extirpation of native bird population by the rapid proliferation ofthe brown tree snake, an exotic, invasive species
Geography - note:largest and southernmost island in the Mariana Islands archipelago;strategic location in western North Pacific Ocean
People Guam
Population:171,019 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 29% (male 25,703/female 23,903)15-64 years: 64.3% (male 56,020/female 53,894)65 years and over: 6.7% (male 5,391/female 6,108) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 28.6 yearsmale: 28.3 yearsfemale: 28.8 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:1.43% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:18.79 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:4.48 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.06 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 6.81 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 7.48 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 6.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 78.58 yearsmale: 75.52 yearsfemale: 81.83 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.58 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: Guamanian(s) (US citizens)adjective: Guamanian
Ethnic groups:Chamorro 37.1%, Filipino 26.3%, other Pacific islander 11.3%, white6.9%, other Asian 6.3%, other ethnic origin or race 2.3%, mixed 9.8%(2000 census)
Religions:Roman Catholic 85%, other 15% (1999 est.)
Languages:English 38.3%, Chamorro 22.2%, Philippine languages 22.2%, otherPacific island languages 6.8%, Asian languages 7%, other languages3.5% (2000 census)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99%male: 99%female: 99% (1990 est.)
Government Guam
Country name:conventional long form: Territory of Guamconventional short form: Guamlocal long form: Guahanlocal short form: Guahan
Dependency status:organized, unincorporated territory of the US with policy relationsbetween Guam and the US under the jurisdiction of the Office ofInsular Affairs, US Department of the Interior
Government type:NA
Capital:name: Hagatna (Agana)geographic coordinates: 13 28 N, 144 45 Etime difference: UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)
Administrative divisions:none (territory of the US)
Independence:none (territory of the US)
National holiday:Discovery Day, first Monday in March (1521)
Constitution:Organic Act of Guam, 1 August 1950
Legal system:modeled on US; US federal laws apply
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal; US citizens, but do not vote in USpresidential elections
Executive branch:chief of state: President George W. BUSH of the US (since 20January 2001); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January2001)head of government: Governor Felix P. CAMACHO (since 6 January 2003)and Lieutenant Governor Dr. Michael W. CRUZ (since 1 January 2007)cabinet: heads of executive departments; appointed by the governorwith the consent of the Guam legislatureelections: under the US Consitution, residents of unincorporatedterritories, such as Guam, do not vote in elections for US presidentand vice president; governor and lieutenant governor elected on thesame ticket by popular vote for four-year term (can serve twoconsecutive terms, then must wait a full term before running again);election last held 7 November 2006 (next to be held November 2010)election results: Felix P. CAMACHO reelected governor; Dr. MichaelW. CRUZ elected lieutenant governor; percent of vote - NA
Legislative branch:unicameral Legislature (15 seats; members are elected by popularvote to serve two-year terms)elections: last held 7 November 2006 (next to be held November 2008)election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -Republican Party 8, Democratic Party 7note: Guam elects one nonvoting delegate to the US House ofRepresentatives; election last held 7 November 2006 (next to be heldNovember 2008); results - Madeleine BORDALLO (Democratic Party) wasreelected as delegate; percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party- Democratic Party 1
Judicial branch:Federal District Court (judge is appointed by the president);Territorial Superior Court (judges appointed for eight-year terms bythe governor)
Political parties and leaders:Democratic Party [leader Michael PHILLIPS]; Republican Party(controls the legislature) [leader Philip J. FLORES]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:IOC, SPC, UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (territory of the US)
Diplomatic representation from the US:none (territory of the US)
Flag description:territorial flag is dark blue with a narrow red border on all foursides; centered is a red-bordered, pointed, vertical ellipsecontaining a beach scene, outrigger canoe with sail, and a palm treewith the word GUAM superimposed in bold red letters; US flag is thenational flag
Economy Guam
Economy - overview:The economy depends largely on US military spending and tourism.Total US grants, wage payments, and procurement outlays amounted to$1.3 billion in 2004. Over the past 30 years, the tourist industryhas grown to become the largest income source following nationaldefense. The Guam economy continues to experience expansion in bothits tourism and military sectors.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$2.5 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$2.773 billion (2001)
GDP - real growth rate:NA%
GDP - per capita (PPP):$15,000 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: NA industry: NA services: NA
Labor force: 62,050 (2002 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 26% industry: 10% services: 64% (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate:11.4% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line:23% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):2.5% (2005 est.)
Budget:revenues: $319.6 millionexpenditures: $427.8 million (2002 est.)
Agriculture - products:fruits, copra, vegetables; eggs, pork, poultry, beef
Industries:US military, tourism, construction, transshipment services,concrete products, printing and publishing, food processing, textiles
Industrial production growth rate:NA%
Electricity - production:1.764 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:1.641 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2004)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:16,000 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:$45 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:mostly transshipments of refined petroleum products; constructionmaterials, fish, food and beverage products
Exports - partners:Japan 67.2%, Singapore 11.6%, UK 4.8% (2005)
Imports:$701 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:petroleum and petroleum products, food, manufactured goods
Imports - partners:Singapore 50%, South Korea 21.4%, Japan 14%, Hong Kong 4.6% (2005)
Debt - external:$NA
Economic aid - recipient:Guam receives large transfer payments from the US Federal Treasury($143 million in 1997) into which Guamanians pay no income or excisetaxes; under the provisions of a special law of Congress, the GuamTreasury, rather than the US Treasury, receives federal income taxespaid by military and civilian Federal employees stationed in Guam(2001 est.)
Currency (code):US dollar (USD)
Currency code:USD
Exchange rates:the US dollar is used
Fiscal year:1 October - 30 September
Communications Guam
Telephones - main lines in use:84,134 (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular:98,000 (2004)
Telephone system:general assessment: modern system, integrated with US facilitiesfor direct dialing, including free use of 800 numbersdomestic: modern digital system, including cellular mobile serviceand local access to the Internetinternational: country code - 1-671; satellite earth stations - 2Intelsat (Pacific Ocean); submarine cables to US and Japan (Guam isa trans-Pacific communications hub for MCI, Sprint, AT&T, IT&E, andGTE, linking the US and Asia)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 3, FM 11, shortwave 2 (2006)
Radios:221,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:3; 6 (Low Power TV) (2006)
Televisions:106,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.gu
Internet hosts:76 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):20 (2000)
Internet users:79,000 (2004)
Transportation Guam
Airports: 5 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 4 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 1under 914 m: 1 (2006)
Roadways:total: 977 km (2004)
Ports and terminals:Apra Harbor
Military Guam
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues Guam
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007
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@Guatemala
Introduction Guatemala
Background:The Maya civilization flourished in Guatemala and surroundingregions during the first millennium A.D. After almost threecenturies as a Spanish colony, Guatemala won its independence in1821. During the second half of the 20th century, it experienced avariety of military and civilian governments, as well as a 36-yearguerrilla war. In 1996, the government signed a peace agreementformally ending the conflict, which had left more than 100,000people dead and had created some 1 million refugees.
Geography Guatemala
Location:Central America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between ElSalvador and Mexico, and bordering the Gulf of Honduras (CaribbeanSea) between Honduras and Belize
Geographic coordinates:15 30 N, 90 15 W
Map references:Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total: 108,890 sq kmland: 108,430 sq kmwater: 460 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Tennessee
Land boundaries:total: 1,687 kmborder countries: Belize 266 km, El Salvador 203 km, Honduras 256km, Mexico 962 km
Coastline:400 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; hot, humid in lowlands; cooler in highlands
Terrain:mostly mountains with narrow coastal plains and rolling limestoneplateau
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 mhighest point: Volcan Tajumulco 4,211 m
Natural resources:petroleum, nickel, rare woods, fish, chicle, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 13.22% permanent crops: 5.6% other: 81.18% (2005)
Irrigated land:1,300 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:numerous volcanoes in mountains, with occasional violentearthquakes; Caribbean coast extremely susceptible to hurricanes andother tropical storms
Environment - current issues:deforestation in the Peten rainforest; soil erosion; water pollution
Environment - international agreements: party to: Antarctic Treaty, 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, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note: no natural harbors on west coast
People Guatemala
Population:12,293,545 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 41.1% (male 2,573,359/female 2,479,098)15-64 years: 55.5% (male 3,353,630/female 3,468,184)65 years and over: 3.4% (male 194,784/female 224,490) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 18.9 yearsmale: 18.5 yearsfemale: 19.4 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:2.27% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:29.88 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:5.2 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:-1.94 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: 0.97 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 30.94 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 33.55 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 28.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 69.38 yearsmale: 67.65 yearsfemale: 71.18 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:3.82 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:1.1% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:78,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:5,800 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Guatemalan(s)adjective: Guatemalan
Ethnic groups:Mestizo (mixed Amerindian-Spanish - in local Spanish called Ladino)and European 59.4%, K'iche 9.1%, Kaqchikel 8.4%, Mam 7.9%, Q'eqchi6.3%, other Mayan 8.6%, indigenous non-Mayan 0.2%, other 0.1% (2001census)
Religions:Roman Catholic, Protestant, indigenous Mayan beliefs
Languages:Spanish 60%, Amerindian languages 40% (23 officially recognizedAmerindian languages, including Quiche, Cakchiquel, Kekchi, Mam,Garifuna, and Xinca)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 70.6%male: 78%female: 63.3% (2003 est.)
Government Guatemala
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Guatemalaconventional short form: Guatemalalocal long form: Republica de Guatemalalocal short form: Guatemala
Government type:constitutional democratic republic
Capital:name: Guatemalageographic coordinates: 14 38 N, 90 31 Wtime difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during StandardTime)daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in April; ends lastFriday in September; note - there is no DST planned for 2007-2009
Administrative divisions:22 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); AltaVerapaz, Baja Verapaz, Chimaltenango, Chiquimula, El Progreso,Escuintla, Guatemala, Huehuetenango, Izabal, Jalapa, Jutiapa, Peten,Quetzaltenango, Quiche, Retalhuleu, Sacatepequez, San Marcos, SantaRosa, Solola, Suchitepequez, Totonicapan, Zacapa
Independence:15 September 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday:Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Constitution:31 May 1985, effective 14 January 1986; note - suspended 25 May1993 by former President Jorge SERRANO; reinstated 5 June 1993following ouster of president; amended November 1993
Legal system:civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts; has notaccepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal (active duty members of the armed forcesmay not vote and are restricted to their barracks on election day)
Executive branch:chief of state: President Oscar Jose Rafael BERGER Perdomo (since14 January 2004); Vice President Eduardo STEIN Barillas (since 14January 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state andhead of governmenthead of government: President Oscar Jose Rafael BERGER Perdomo(since 14 January 2004); Vice President Eduardo STEIN Barillas(since 14 January 2004)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the presidentelections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term(may not serve consecutive terms); election last held 9 November2003; runoff held 28 December 2003 (next to be held September 2007)election results: Oscar BERGER Perdomo elected president; percent ofvote - Oscar BERGER Perdomo (GANA) 54.1%, Alvarado COLOM (UNE) 45.9%
Legislative branch:unicameral Congress of the Republic or Congreso de la Republica(158 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-yearterms)elections: last held 9 November 2003 (next to be held September 2007)election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -GANA 49, FRG 41, UNE 33, PAN 17, other 18note: for the 9 November 2003 election, the number of congressionalseats increased from 113 to 158
Judicial branch:Constitutional Court or Corte de Constitutcionalidad is Guatemala'shighest court (five judges are elected for concurrent five-yearterms by Congress, each serving one year as president of theConstitutional Court; one is elected by Congress, one elected by theSupreme Court of Justice, one appointed by the president, oneelected by Superior Counsel of Universidad San Carlos de Guatemala,and one by Colegio de Abogados); Supreme Court of Justice or CorteSuprema de Justicia (13 members serve concurrent five-year terms andelect a president of the Court each year from among their number;the president of the Supreme Court of Justice also supervises trialjudges around the country, who are named to five-year terms)
Political parties and leaders:Authentic Integral Development or DIA [Eduardo SUGER]; GrandNational Alliance or GANA [Fraterno VILLA, secretary general];Guatemalan Christian Democracy or DCG [Vinicio CEREZO Arevalo];Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity or URNG [Alba ESTELAMaldonado, secretary general]; Guatemalan Republican Front or FRG[Efrain RIOS Montt]; Movement for Guatemalan Unity or MGU [JacoboARBENZ Villanueva]; Movement for Principles and Values or MPV[Francisco BIANCHI]; National Advancement Party or PAN [Leonel LOPEZRodas, secretary general]; National Unity for Hope or UNE [AlvaroCOLOM Caballeros]; New Nation Alliance or ANN (formed by an allianceof DIA, URNG, and several splinter groups most of whom subsequentlydefected) [Pablo MONSANTO]; Patriot Party or PP [Ret. Gen. OttoPEREZ Molina]; Reform Movement or MR [Alfredo SKINNER-KLEE,secretary general]; Unionista Party [Fritz GARCIA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Agrarian Owners Group or UNAGRO; Alliance Against Impunity or AAI;Committee for Campesino Unity or CUC; Coordinating Committee ofAgricultural, Commercial, Industrial, and Financial Associations orCACIF; Mutual Support Group or GAM
International organization participation:BCIE, CACM, FAO, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM,IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU,ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA,MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM, OAS, ONUB, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO,WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Guillermo CASTILLOchancery: 2220 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone: [1] (202) 745-4952FAX: [1] (202) 745-1908consulate(s) general: Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami,New York, Providence, San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador James M. DERHAM embassy: 7-01 Avenida Reforma, Zone 10, Guatemala City mailing address: APO AA 34024 telephone: [502] 2326-4000 FAX: [502] 2326-4654
Flag description:three equal vertical bands of light blue (hoist side), white, andlight blue with the coat of arms centered in the white band; thecoat of arms includes a green and red quetzal (the national bird)and a scroll bearing the inscription LIBERTAD 15 DE SEPTIEMBRE DE1821 (the original date of independence from Spain) all superimposedon a pair of crossed rifles and a pair of crossed swords and framedby a wreath
Economy Guatemala
Economy - overview:Guatemala is the largest and most populous of the Central Americancountries with a GDP per capita roughly one-half that of Brazil,Argentina, and Chile. The agricultural sector accounts for aboutone-fourth of GDP, two-fifths of exports, and half of the laborforce. Coffee, sugar, and bananas are the main products. The 1996signing of peace accords, which ended 36 years of civil war, removeda major obstacle to foreign investment, and Guatemala since then haspursued important reforms and macroeconomic stabilization. Thedistribution of income remains highly unequal with about 75% of thepopulation below the poverty line. Other ongoing challenges includeincreasing government revenues, negotiating further assistance frominternational donors, upgrading both government and privatefinancial operations, curtailing drug trafficking, and narrowing thetrade deficit. Remittances from a large expatriate community thatmoved to the United States during the war have become an importantsource of foreign exchange.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$60.57 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$28.84 billion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:3.9% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$4,900 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 22.5% industry: 18.8% services: 58.7% (2006 est.)
Labor force: 3.85 million (2006 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 50% industry: 15% services: 35% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:7.5% (2003 est.)
Population below poverty line:75% (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.6% highest 10%: 46% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:48.3 (2000)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):6.6% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):15.5% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget:revenues: $3.894 billionexpenditures: $4.828 billion; including capital expenditures of $750million (2006 est.)
Public debt:25.9% of GDP (2006 est.)
Agriculture - products:sugarcane, corn, bananas, coffee, beans, cardamom; cattle, sheep,pigs, chickens
Industries:sugar, textiles and clothing, furniture, chemicals, petroleum,metals, rubber, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:4.1% (1999)
Electricity - production:7.604 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 51.9% hydro: 35.2% nuclear: 0% other: 12.9% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:6.649 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:464 million kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:41 million kWh (2004)
Oil - production:22,300 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption:67,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports:3,104 bbl/day (2003)
Oil - imports:NA bbl/day (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:263 million bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:3.087 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)
Current account balance:$-2.028 billion (2006 est.)
Exports:$4.097 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Exports - commodities:coffee, sugar, petroleum, apparel, bananas, fruits and vegetables,cardamom
Exports - partners:US 50.1%, El Salvador 12.1%, Honduras 7.3%, Mexico 4% (2005)
Imports:$9.118 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities:fuels, machinery and transport equipment, construction materials,grain, fertilizers, electricity
Imports - partners:US 38.1%, Mexico 7.6%, El Salvador 4.8%, South Korea 4.8%, Panama4.4% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$3.959 billion (2006 est.)
Debt - external:$6.169 billion (2006 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$250 million (2000 est.)
Currency (code):quetzal (GTQ), US dollar (USD), others allowed
Currency code:GTQ; USD
Exchange rates:quetzales per US dollar - 7.60102 (2006), 7.6339 (2005), 7.9465(2004), 7.9409 (2003), 7.8217 (2002)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Guatemala
Telephones - main lines in use:1,132,100 (2004)
Telephones - mobile cellular:3,168,300 (2004)
Telephone system:general assessment: fairly modern network centered in the city ofGuatemaladomestic: NAinternational: country code - 502; connected to Central AmericanMicrowave System; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (AtlanticOcean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 130, FM 487, shortwave 15 (2000)
Radios:835,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:26 (plus 27 repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:1.323 million (1997)
Internet country code:.gt
Internet hosts:49,026 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):5 (2000)
Internet users:756,000 (2005)
Transportation Guatemala
Airports: 450 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 112,438 to 3,047 m: 31,524 to 2,437 m: 2914 to 1,523 m: 4under 914 m: 2 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 4392,438 to 3,047 m: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 8914 to 1,523 m: 111under 914 m: 319 (2006)
Pipelines:oil 480 km (2006)
Railways:total: 886 kmnarrow gauge: 886 km 0.914-m gauge (2005)
Roadways:total: 14,095 kmpaved: 4,863 km (including 75 km of expressways)unpaved: 9,232 km (1999)
Waterways:990 kmnote: 260 km navigable year round; additional 730 km navigableduring high-water season (2004)
Ports and terminals:Puerto Quetzal, Santo Tomas de Castilla
Military Guatemala
Military branches:Army, Navy (includes marines), Air Force
Military service age and obligation: all male citizens between the ages of 18 and 50 are liable for military service; conscript service obligation varies from 12 to 24 months (2005)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 2,429,033females age 18-49: 2,503,482 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 1,911,412females age 18-49: 2,070,806 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 134,032females age 18-49: 130,641 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$169.8 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:0.5% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Guatemala
Disputes - international:Guatemalan squatters continue to settle in the rain forests ofBelize's border region; Organization of American States (OAS) isattempting to revive the 2002 failed Differendum that created asmall adjustment to land boundary, a Guatemalan maritime corridor inCaribbean, a joint ecological park for the disputed Sapodilla Cays,and a substantial US-UK financial package; Guatemalans enter Mexicoillegally seeking work or transit to the US
Refugees and internally displaced persons:IDPs: undetermined (estimates vary from none to 1 million displacedfrom government's scorched-earth offensive in 1980s againstindigenous people) (2006)
Illicit drugs:major transit country for cocaine and heroin; in 2004, reemerged asa potential source of opium, growing 330 hectares of opium poppy,with potential pure heroin production of 1.4 metric tons; 76% ofopium poppy cultivation in western highlands along Mexican border;marijuana cultivation for mostly domestic consumption; proximity toMexico makes Guatemala a major staging area for drugs (particularlyfor cocaine); money laundering is a serious problem; corruption is amajor problem
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007
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@Guernsey
Introduction Guernsey
Background:Guernsey and the other Channel Islands represent the last remnantsof the medieval Dukedom of Normandy, which held sway in both Franceand England. The islands were the only British soil occupied byGerman troops in World War II. Guernsey is a British crowndependency, but is not part of the UK. However, the UK Government isconstitutionally responsible for defense and internationalrepresentation.
Geography Guernsey
Location:Western Europe, islands in the English Channel, northwest of France
Geographic coordinates:49 28 N, 2 35 W
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 78 sq kmland: 78 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmnote: includes Alderney, Guernsey, Herm, Sark, and some othersmaller islands
Area - comparative:about one-half the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:50 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 3 nmexclusive fishing zone: 12 nm
Climate:temperate with mild winters and cool summers; about 50% of days areovercast
Terrain:mostly level with low hills in southwest
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Sark 114 m
Natural resources: cropland
Land use: arable land: NA% permanent crops: NA% other: NA%
Irrigated land:NA
Natural hazards:NA
Environment - current issues:NA
Geography - note:large, deepwater harbor at Saint Peter Port
People Guernsey
Population:65,409 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 15% (male 4,998/female 4,842)15-64 years: 67.1% (male 21,752/female 22,170)65 years and over: 17.8% (male 4,926/female 6,721) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 41.3 yearsmale: 40.4 yearsfemale: 42.2 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:0.26% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:8.81 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:10.01 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:3.82 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.04 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 4.65 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 5.19 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 4.08 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 80.42 yearsmale: 77.41 yearsfemale: 83.53 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.39 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: Channel Islander(s)adjective: Channel Islander
Ethnic groups:UK and Norman-French descent with small percentages from otherEuropean countries
Religions:Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Baptist, Congregational,Methodist
Languages:English, French, Norman-French dialect spoken in country districts
Literacy: definition: NA total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA%
Government Guernsey
Country name:conventional long form: Bailiwick of Guernseyconventional short form: Guernsey
Dependency status:British crown dependency
Government type:parliamentary democracy
Capital:name: Saint Peter Portgeographic coordinates: 49 27 N, 2 32 Wtime difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends lastSunday in October
Administrative divisions:none (British crown dependency); there are no first-orderadministrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but thereare 10 parishes including Castel, Forest, Saint Andrew, SaintMartin, Saint Peter Port, Saint Pierre du Bois, Saint Sampson, SaintSaviour, Torteval, Vale
Independence:none (British crown dependency)
National holiday:Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)
Constitution:unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice
Legal system:English law and local statutes; justice is administered by theRoyal Court
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),represented by Lieutenant Governor Sir Fabian MALBON (since 28October 2005)head of government: Chief Minister Laurie MORGAN (since 1 May 2004)cabinet: Policy Council elected by the States of Deliberationelections: the monarch is hereditary; lieutenant governor appointedby the monarch; chief minister is elected by States of Delibertionelection results: Laurie MORGAN elected chief minister, percent ofvote of the States of Deliberation NA
Legislative branch:unicameral States of Deliberation (45 seats; members are elected bypopular vote for four years); note - Alderney and Sark have theirown parliamentselections: last held 21 April 2004 (next to be held in 2008)election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - all independents
Judicial branch:Royal Court
Political parties and leaders:none; all independents
Political pressure groups and leaders:none
International organization participation:UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (British crown dependency)
Diplomatic representation from the US:none (British crown dependency)
Flag description:white with the red cross of Saint George (patron saint of England)extending to the edges of the flag and a yellow equal-armed cross ofWilliam the Conqueror superimposed on the Saint George cross
Economy Guernsey
Economy - overview:Financial services - banking, fund management, insurance - accountfor about 23% of employment and 32% of total income in this tiny,prosperous Channel Island economy. Tourism, manufacturing, andhorticulture, mainly tomatoes and cut flowers, have been declining.Financial services, construction, retail, and the public sector havebeen growing. Light tax and death duties make Guernsey a popular taxhaven. The evolving economic integration of the EU nations ischanging the environment under which Guernsey operates.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$2.742 billion (2005)
GDP (official exchange rate):$2.742 billion (2005)
GDP - real growth rate:3% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$44,600 (2005)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 3% industry: 10% services: 87% (2000)
Labor force:31,470 (March 2006)
Unemployment rate:0.9% (March 2006 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):3.4% (June 2006)
Budget:revenues: $563.6 millionexpenditures: $530.9 million; including capital expenditures of $NA(2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:tomatoes, greenhouse flowers, sweet peppers, eggplant, fruit;Guernsey cattle
Industries:tourism, banking
Industrial production growth rate:NA%
Electricity - production:NA kWh
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: NA hydro: NA nuclear: NA other: NA
Electricity - consumption:NA kWh
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2002)
Exports:$NA
Exports - commodities:tomatoes, flowers and ferns, sweet peppers, eggplant, othervegetables
Exports - partners:UK; note - regarded as internal trade (2004)
Imports:$NA
Imports - commodities:coal, gasoline, oil, machinery and equipment
Imports - partners:UK; note - regarded as internal trade (2004)
Debt - external:$NA
Economic aid - recipient:$NA
Currency (code):British pound (GBP); note - there is also a Guernsey pound
Currency code:GBP
Exchange rates:Guernsey pounds per US dollar - 0.5441 (2006), 0.55 (2005), 0.5462(2004), 0.6125 (2003), 0.6672 (2002), note, the Guernsey pound is atpar with the British pound
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Guernsey
Telephones - main lines in use:55,100 (2004)
Telephones - mobile cellular:43,800 (2004)
Telephone system:general assessment: NAdomestic: NAinternational: 1 submarine cable
Radio broadcast stations:AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:NA
Television broadcast stations:1 (1997)
Televisions:NA
Internet country code:.gg
Internet hosts:1,245 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):NA
Internet users:36,000 (2005)
Transportation Guernsey
Airports: 2 (one on Alderney) (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2006)
Roadways:total: NA
Ports and terminals:Saint Peter Port, Saint Sampson
Military Guernsey
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues Guernsey
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007
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@Guinea
Introduction Guinea
Background:Guinea has had only two presidents since gaining its independencefrom France in 1958. Lansana CONTE came to power in 1984 when themilitary seized the government after the death of the firstpresident, Sekou TOURE. Guinea did not hold democratic electionsuntil 1993 when Gen. CONTE (head of the military government) waselected president of the civilian government. He was reelected in1998 and again in 2003. Unrest in Sierra Leone and Liberia hasspilled over into Guinea on several occasions over the past decade,threatening stability and creating humanitarian emergencies. In2006, declining economic conditions prompted two massive strikesthat sparked urban unrest in many Guinean cities.
Geography Guinea
Location:Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, betweenGuinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone
Geographic coordinates:11 00 N, 10 00 W
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 245,857 sq kmland: 245,857 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Oregon
Land boundaries: total: 3,399 km border countries: Cote d'Ivoire 610 km, Guinea-Bissau 386 km, Liberia 563 km, Mali 858 km, Senegal 330 km, Sierra Leone 652 km
Coastline: 320 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season (June toNovember) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to May)with northeasterly harmattan winds
Terrain:generally flat coastal plain, hilly to mountainous interior
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mont Nimba 1,752 m
Natural resources: bauxite, iron ore, diamonds, gold, uranium, hydropower, fish, salt
Land use: arable land: 4.47% permanent crops: 2.64% other: 92.89% (2005)
Irrigated land:950 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility during dryseason
Environment - current issues:deforestation; inadequate supplies of potable water;desertification; soil contamination and erosion; overfishing,overpopulation in forest region; poor mining practices have led toenvironmental damage
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Lawof the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands, Whalingsigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:the Niger and its important tributary the Milo have their sourcesin the Guinean highlands
People Guinea
Population:9,690,222 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 44.4% (male 2,171,733/female 2,128,027)15-64 years: 52.5% (male 2,541,140/female 2,542,847)65 years and over: 3.2% (male 134,239/female 172,236) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 17.7 yearsmale: 17.4 yearsfemale: 17.9 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:2.63% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:41.76 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:15.48 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)