Administrative divisions:12 counties (qarqe, singular - qark); Qarku i Beratit, Qarku iDibres, Qarku i Durresit, Qarku i Elbasanit, Qarku i Fierit, Qarku iGjirokastres, Qarku i Korces, Qarku i Kukesit, Qarku i Lezhes, Qarkui Shkodres, Qarku i Tiranes, Qarku i Vlores
Independence:28 November 1912 (from Ottoman Empire)
National holiday:Independence Day, 28 November (1912)
Constitution:adopted by popular referendum on 28 November 1998
Legal system:has a civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJjurisdiction; has accepted jurisdiction of the InternationalCriminal Court for its citizens
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President of the Republic Alfred MOISIU (since 24June 2002)head of government: Prime Minister Sali BERISHA (since 10 September2005)cabinet: Council of Ministers proposed by the prime minister,nominated by the president, and approved by parliamentelections: president elected by the People's Assembly for afive-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 24June 2002 (next to be held June 2007); prime minister appointed bythe presidentelection results: Alfred MOISIU elected president; People's Assemblyvote by number - total votes 134: for 97, against 19, abstained 14,invalid votes 4
Legislative branch:unicameral Assembly or Kuvendi (140 seats; 100 are elected bydirect popular vote and 40 by proportional vote for four-year terms)elections: last held 3 July 2005 (next to be held in 2009)election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PD56, PS 42, PR 11, PSD 7, LSI 5, other 19
Judicial branch:Constitutional Court, Supreme Court (chairman is elected by thePeople's Assembly for a four-year term), and multiple appeals anddistrict courts
Political parties and leaders:Agrarian Environmentalist Party or PAA [Lufter XHUVELI]; ChristianDemocratic Party or PDK [Nard NDOKA]; Communist Party of Albania orPKSH [Hysni MILLOSHI]; Democratic Alliance Party or AD [NeritanCEKA]; Democratic Party or PD [Sali BERISHA]; Legality MovementParty or PLL [Ekrem SPAHIU]; Liberal Union Party or BLD [ArjanSTAROVA]; National Front Party (Balli Kombetar) or PBK [AdriatikALIMADHI]; New Democratic Party or PDR [Genc POLLO]; Party ofNational Unity or PUK [Idajet BEQIRI]; Renewed Democratic Party orPDRN [Dashamir SHEHI]; Republican Party or PR [Fatmir MEDIU]; SocialDemocracy Party of Albania or PDSSh [Paskal MILO]; Social DemocraticParty or PSD [Skender GJINUSHI]; Socialist Movement for Integrationor LSI [Ilir META]; Socialist Party or PS [Edi RAMA]; Union forHuman Rights Party or PBDNj [Vangjel DULE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Citizens Advocacy Office [Kreshnik SPAHIU]; Confederation of TradeUnions of Albania or KSSH [Kastriot MUCO]; Front for AlbanianNational Unification or FBKSH [Gafur ADILI]; Mjaft Movement [ErionVELIAJ]; Omonia [Jani JANI]; Union of Independent Trade Unions ofAlbania or BSPSH [Gezim KALAJA]
International organization participation:BSEC, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA,IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO(correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, OIC, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SECI,UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Aleksander SALLABANDAchancery: 2100 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone: [1] (202) 223-4942FAX: [1] (202) 628-7342
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Marcie B. RIESembassy: Rruga e Elbasanit, Labinoti #103, Tiranamailing address: US Department of State, 9510 Tirana Place, Dulles,VA 20189-9510telephone: [355] (4) 247285FAX: [355] (4) 232222
Flag description:red with a black two-headed eagle in the center
Economy Albania
Economy - overview:Lagging behind its Balkan neighbors, Albania is making thedifficult transition to a more modern open-market economy. Thegovernment has taken measures to curb violent crime and reduce thelarge grey economy. The economy is bolstered by annual remittancesfrom abroad of $600-$800 million, mostly from Albanians residing inGreece and Italy; this helps offset the towering trade deficit.Agriculture, which accounts for about one-quarter of GDP, is heldback because of lack of modern equipment, unclear property rights,and the prevalence of small, inefficient plots of land. Energyshortages and antiquated and inadequate infrastructure contribute toAlbania's poor business environment, which make it difficult toattract and sustain foreign investment. The planned construction ofa new thermal power plant near Vlore and improved transmission anddistribution facilities eventually will help relieve the energyshortages. Also, the government is moving slowly to improve the poornational road and rail network, a long-standing barrier to sustainedeconomic growth. On the positive side: growth was strong in 2003-06and inflation is low and stable.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$20.21 billionnote: Albania has a large gray economy that may be as large as 50%of official GDP (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$9.306 billion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:5% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$5,600 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 23.3% industry: 18.8% services: 57.9% (2006 est.)
Labor force: 1.09 million (not including 352,000 emigrant workers) (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 58% industry: 19% services: 23% (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate:14.3% official rate, but may exceed 30% due to preponderance ofnear-subsistence farming (2005 est.)
Population below poverty line:25% (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Distribution of family income - Gini index:28.2 (2002)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):2.8% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):24.5% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget:revenues: $2.323 billionexpenditures: $2.587 billion; including capital expenditures of $500million (2006 est.)
Agriculture - products:wheat, corn, potatoes, vegetables, fruits, sugar beets, grapes;meat, dairy products
Industries:food processing, textiles and clothing; lumber, oil, cement,chemicals, mining, basic metals, hydropower
Industrial production growth rate:3.1% (2004 est.)
Electricity - production:5.434 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 2.9% hydro: 97.1% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:5.231 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:390 million kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:567 million kWh (2004 est.)
Oil - production:3,600 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption:25,200 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - exports:0 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - imports:21,600 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - proved reserves:185.5 million bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:30 million cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:30 million cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:2.832 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)
Current account balance:$-679.9 million (2006 est.)
Exports:$763.2 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Exports - commodities:textiles and footwear; asphalt, metals and metallic ores, crudeoil; vegetables, fruits, tobacco
Exports - partners:Italy 72.4%, Greece 10.5%, Serbia and Montenegro 5% (2005)
Imports:$2.901 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, textiles, chemicals
Imports - partners:Italy 29.3%, Greece 16.4%, Turkey 7.5%, China 6.6%, Germany 5.4%,Russia 4% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$1.621 billion (2006 est.)
Debt - external:$1.55 billion (2004)
Economic aid - recipient:ODA: $366 million (top donors were Italy, EU, Germany) (2003 est.)
Currency (code):lek (ALL)note: the plural of lek is leke
Currency code:ALL
Exchange rates:leke per US dollar - 98.5927 (2006), 102.649 (2005), 102.78 (2004),121.863 (2003), 140.155 (2002)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Albania
Telephones - main lines in use:255,000 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:1.259 million (2004)
Telephone system:general assessment: despite new investment in fixed lines, thedensity of main lines remains the lowest in Europe with roughlyseven lines per 100 people; however, cellular telephone use iswidespread and generally effectivedomestic: offsetting the shortage of fixed line capacity, mobilephone service has been available since 1996; by 2003 two companieswere providing mobile services at a greater density than some ofAlbania's Balkan neighborsinternational: country code - 355; inadequate fixed main lines;adequate cellular connections; international traffic carried byfiber optic cable and, when necessary, by microwave radio relay fromthe Tirana exchange to Italy and Greece (2003)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 13, FM 46 (3 national, 62 local), shortwave 1 (2005)
Radios:1 million (2001)
Television broadcast stations:65 (3 national, 62 local); note - 2 cable networks (2005)
Televisions:700,000 (2001)
Internet country code:.al
Internet hosts:430 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):10 (2001)
Internet users:75,000 (2005)
Transportation Albania
Airports: 11 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 8 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 4 (2006)
Heliports:1 (2006)
Pipelines:gas 339 km; oil 207 km (2006)
Railways: total: 447 km standard gauge: 447 km 1.435-m gauge (2005)
Roadways: total: 18,000 km paved: 7,020 km unpaved: 10,980 km (2002)
Waterways:43 km (2006)
Merchant marine:total: 24 ships (1000 GRT or over) 52,987 GRT/79,863 DWTby type: cargo 23, roll on/roll off 1foreign-owned: 1 (Turkey 1)registered in other countries: 1 (Georgia 1) (2006)
Ports and terminals:Durres, Sarande, Shengjin, Vlore
Military Albania
Military branches:General Staff Headquarters, Land Forces Command (Army), NavalForces Command, Air Defense Command, Logistics Command, Training andDoctrine Command
Military service age and obligation:19 years of age (2004)
Manpower available for military service:males age 19-49: 809,524females age 19-49: 784,199 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 19-49: 668,526females age 19-49: 648,334 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 37,407females age 19-49: 34,587 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$56.5 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.49% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Albania
Disputes - international:the Albanian Government calls for the protection of the rights ofethnic Albanians in neighboring countries, and the peacefulresolution of interethnic disputes; some ethnic Albanian groups inneighboring countries advocate for a "greater Albania," but the ideahas little appeal among Albanian nationals; thousands of unemployedAlbanians emigrate annually to nearby Italy and other developedcountries
Illicit drugs:increasingly active transshipment point for Southwest Asianopiates, hashish, and cannabis transiting the Balkan route and - toa far lesser extent - cocaine from South America destined forWestern Europe; limited opium and growing cannabis production;ethnic Albanian narcotrafficking organizations active and expandingin Europe; vulnerable to money laundering associated with regionaltrafficking in narcotics, arms, contraband, and illegal aliens
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007
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@Algeria
Introduction Algeria
Background:After more than a century of rule by France, Algerians foughtthrough much of the 1950s to achieve independence in 1962. Algeria'sprimary political party, the National Liberation Front (FLN), hasdominated politics ever since. Many Algerians in the subsequentgeneration were not satisfied, however, and moved to counter theFLN's centrality in Algerian politics. The surprising first roundsuccess of the Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) in the December 1991balloting spurred the Algerian army to intervene and postpone thesecond round of elections to prevent what the secular elite fearedwould be an extremist-led government from assuming power. The armybegan a crack down on the FIS that spurred FIS supporters to beginattacking government targets. The government later allowed electionsfeaturing pro-government and moderate religious-based parties, butdid not appease the activists who progressively widened theirattacks. The fighting escalated into an insurgency, which sawintense fighting between 1992-98 and which resulted in over 100,000deaths - many attributed to indiscriminate massacres of villagers byextremists. The government gained the upper hand by the late-1990sand FIS's armed wing, the Islamic Salvation Army, disbanded inJanuary 2000. However, small numbers of armed militants persist inconfronting government forces and conducting ambushes and occasionalattacks on villages. The army placed Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA in thepresidency in 1999 in a fraudulent election but claimed neutralityin his 2004 landslide reelection victory. Longstanding problemscontinue to face BOUTEFLIKA in his second term, including the ethnicminority Berbers' ongoing autonomy campaign, large-scaleunemployment, a shortage of housing, unreliable electrical and watersupplies, government inefficiencies and corruption, and thecontinuing - although significantly degraded - activities ofextremist militants. Algeria must also diversify its petroleum-basedeconomy, which has yielded a large cash reserve but which has notbeen used to redress Algeria's many social and infrastructureproblems.
Geography Algeria
Location:Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Moroccoand Tunisia
Geographic coordinates:28 00 N, 3 00 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 2,381,740 sq kmland: 2,381,740 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly less than 3.5 times the size of Texas
Land boundaries:total: 6,343 kmborder countries: Libya 982 km, Mali 1,376 km, Mauritania 463 km,Morocco 1,559 km, Niger 956 km, Tunisia 965 km, Western Sahara 42 km
Coastline:998 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmexclusive fishing zone: 32-52 nm
Climate:arid to semiarid; mild, wet winters with hot, dry summers alongcoast; drier with cold winters and hot summers on high plateau;sirocco is a hot, dust/sand-laden wind especially common in summer
Terrain:mostly high plateau and desert; some mountains; narrow,discontinuous coastal plain
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Chott Melrhir -40 mhighest point: Tahat 3,003 m
Natural resources:petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, uranium, lead, zinc
Land use: arable land: 3.17% permanent crops: 0.28% other: 96.55% (2005)
Irrigated land:5,690 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:mountainous areas subject to severe earthquakes; mudslides andfloods in rainy season
Environment - current issues:soil erosion from overgrazing and other poor farming practices;desertification; dumping of raw sewage, petroleum refining wastes,and other industrial effluents is leading to the pollution of riversand coastal waters; Mediterranean Sea, in particular, becomingpolluted from oil wastes, soil erosion, and fertilizer runoff;inadequate supplies of potable water
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note: second-largest country in Africa (after Sudan)
People Algeria
Population:32,930,091 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 28.1% (male 4,722,076/female 4,539,713)15-64 years: 67.1% (male 11,133,802/female 10,964,502)65 years and over: 4.8% (male 735,444/female 834,554) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 24.9 yearsmale: 24.7 yearsfemale: 25.1 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:1.22% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:17.14 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:4.61 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:-0.35 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: 1.02 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 29.87 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 33.62 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 25.94 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 73.26 yearsmale: 71.68 yearsfemale: 74.92 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.89 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.1% ; note - no country specific models provided (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:9,100 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 500 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:degree of risk: intermediatefood or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, andtyphoid fevervectorborne disease: cutaneous leishmaniasis is a high risk in somelocations (2007)
Nationality:noun: Algerian(s)adjective: Algerian
Ethnic groups:Arab-Berber 99%, European less than 1%note: almost all Algerians are Berber in origin, not Arab; theminority who identify themselves as Berber live mostly in themountainous region of Kabylie east of Algiers; the Berbers are alsoMuslim but identify with their Berber rather than Arab culturalheritage; Berbers have long agitated, sometimes violently, forautonomy; the government is unlikely to grant autonomy but hasoffered to begin sponsoring teaching Berber language in schools
Religions:Sunni Muslim (state religion) 99%, Christian and Jewish 1%
Languages:Arabic (official), French, Berber dialects
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 70%male: 78.8%female: 61% (2003 est.)
Government Algeria
Country name:conventional long form: People's Democratic Republic of Algeriaconventional short form: Algerialocal long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Jaza'iriyah ad Dimuqratiyah ashSha'biyahlocal short form: Al Jaza'ir
Government type:republic
Capital:name: Algiersgeographic coordinates: 36 47 N, 2 03 Etime difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)
Administrative divisions:48 provinces (wilayat, singular - wilaya); Adrar, Ain Defla, AinTemouchent, Alger, Annaba, Batna, Bechar, Bejaia, Biskra, Blida,Bordj Bou Arreridj, Bouira, Boumerdes, Chlef, Constantine, Djelfa,El Bayadh, El Oued, El Tarf, Ghardaia, Guelma, Illizi, Jijel,Khenchela, Laghouat, Mascara, Medea, Mila, Mostaganem, M'Sila,Naama, Oran, Ouargla, Oum el Bouaghi, Relizane, Saida, Setif, SidiBel Abbes, Skikda, Souk Ahras, Tamanghasset, Tebessa, Tiaret,Tindouf, Tipaza, Tissemsilt, Tizi Ouzou, Tlemcen
Independence:5 July 1962 (from France)
National holiday:Revolution Day, 1 November (1954)
Constitution:8 September 1963; revised 19 November 1976, effective 22 November1976; revised 3 November 1988, 23 February 1989, and 28 November 1996
Legal system:socialist, based on French and Islamic law; judicial review oflegislative acts in ad hoc Constitutional Council composed ofvarious public officials, including several Supreme Court justices;has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA (since 28 April 1999)head of government: Prime Minister Abdelaziz BELKHADEMcabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the presidentelections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term(eligible for a second term); election last held 8 April 2004 (nextto be held in April 2009); prime minister appointed by the presidentelection results: Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA reelected president forsecond term; percent of vote - Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA 85%, Ali BENFLIS6.4%, Abdellah DJABALLAH 5%
Legislative branch:bicameral Parliament consisting of the National People's Assemblyor Al-Majlis Ech-Chaabi Al-Watani (389 seats - formerly 380 seats;members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and theCouncil of Nations (Senate) (144 seats; one-third of the membersappointed by the president, two-thirds elected by indirect vote;members serve six-year terms; the constitution requires half thecouncil to be renewed every three years)elections: National People's Assembly - last held 30 May 2002 (nextto be held in 2007); Council of Nations (Senate) - last held 30December 2003 (next to be held in 2006)election results: National People's Assembly - percent of vote byparty - NA; seats by party - FLN 199, RND 47, Islah 43, MSP 38, PT21, FNA 8, EnNahda 1, PRA 1, MEN 1, independents 30; Council ofNations - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party NA
Judicial branch:Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:Algerian National Front or FNA [Moussa TOUATI]; National DemocraticRally (Rassemblement National Democratique) or RND [Ahmed OUYAHIA,secretary general]; Islamic Salvation Front or FIS (outlawed April1992) [Ali BELHADJ, Dr. Abassi MADANI, Rabeh KEBIR]; NationalEntente Movement or MEN [Ali BOUKHAZNA]; National Liberation Frontor FLN [Abdelaziz BELKHADEM, secretary general]; National ReformMovement or Islah (formerly MRN) [Abdellah DJABALLAH]; NationalRenewal Party or PRA [Yacine TERKMANE]; Progressive Republican Party[Khadir DRISS]; Rally for Culture and Democracy or RCD [Said SADI];Renaissance Movement or EnNahda Movement [Fatah RABEI]; SocialistForces Front or FFS [Hocine Ait AHMED, secretary general]; SocialLiberal Party or PSL [Ahmed KHELIL]; Society of Peace Movement orMSP [Boudjerra SOLTANI]; Workers Party or PT [Louisa HANOUN]note: a law banning political parties based on religion was enactedin March 1997
Political pressure groups and leaders:The Algerian Human Rights League or LADH or LADDH [Yahia AliABDENOUR]; SOS Disparus [Nacera DUTOUR]; Somoud [Ali MERABET]
International organization participation:ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, AU, BIS, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA,IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, LAS,MIGA, MONUC, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, ONUB, OPCW, OPEC, OSCE(partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNWTO, UPU, WCO,WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Amine KHERBI chancery: 2118 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 265-2800 FAX: [1] (202) 667-2174
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Robert S. FORD embassy: 04 Chemin Cheikh Bachir Ibrahimi El-Biar 16030, Algiers mailing address: B. P. 408, Alger-Gare, 16030 Algiers telephone: [213] (021) 69-12-55 FAX: [213] (021) 69-39-79
Flag description:two equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and white; a red,five-pointed star within a red crescent centered over the two-colorboundary; the crescent, star, and color green are traditionalsymbols of Islam (the state religion)
Economy Algeria
Economy - overview:The hydrocarbons sector is the backbone of the economy, accountingfor roughly 60% of budget revenues, 30% of GDP, and over 95% ofexport earnings. Algeria has the seventh-largest reserves of naturalgas in the world and is the second-largest gas exporter; it ranks14th in oil reserves. Sustained high oil prices in recent years,along with macroeconomic policy reforms supported by the IMF, havehelped improve Algeria's financial and macroeconomic indicators.Algeria is running substantial trade surpluses and building uprecord foreign exchange reserves. Algeria has decreased its externaldebt to less than 10% of GDP after repaying its Paris Club andLondon Club debt in 2006. Real GDP has risen due to higher oiloutput and increased government spending. The government's continuedefforts to diversify the economy by attracting foreign and domesticinvestment outside the energy sector, however, has had littlesuccess in reducing high unemployment and improving livingstandards. Structural reform within the economy, such as developmentof the banking sector and the construction of infrastructure, movesahead slowly hampered by corruption and bureaucratic resistance.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$253.4 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$92.22 billion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:5.6% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$7,700 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 9.4% industry: 58.1% services: 32.5% (2006 est.)
Labor force: 9.31 million (2006 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 14%, industry 14%, construction and public works 10%, trade 13.4%, government 32%, other 10% (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate:15.7% (2006 est.)
Population below poverty line:25% (2005 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.8% highest 10%: 26.8% (1995)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:35.3 (1995)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):3% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):23.4% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget:revenues: $59.26 billionexpenditures: $49.14 billion; including capital expenditures of $5.8billion (2006 est.)
Public debt:18.6% of GDP (2006 est.)
Agriculture - products:wheat, barley, oats, grapes, olives, citrus, fruits; sheep, cattle
Industries:petroleum, natural gas, light industries, mining, electrical,petrochemical, food processing
Industrial production growth rate:10% (2006 est.)
Electricity - production:29.39 billion kWh (2004 est.)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 99.7% hydro: 0.3% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:27.4 billion kWh (2004 est.)
Electricity - exports:230 million kWh (2004 est.)
Electricity - imports:300 million kWh (2004 est.)
Oil - production:1.373 million bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption:233,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports:1.127 million bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - imports:0 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - proved reserves:11 billion bbl (2006 est.)
Natural gas - production:80.15 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:19.28 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - exports:60.87 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:4.545 trillion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)
Current account balance:$25.8 billion (2006 est.)
Exports:$55.6 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Exports - commodities:petroleum, natural gas, and petroleum products 97%
Exports - partners:US 22.6%, Italy 16%, Spain 10.5%, France 10%, Canada 7.9%, Brazil6.5%, Belgium 4.3%, Germany 4.2% (2005)
Imports:$27.6 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities:capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods
Imports - partners:France 28.1%, Italy 7.8%, Spain 7.2%, China 6.6%, Germany 6.3%, US5.5% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$71.96 billion (2006 est.)
Debt - external:$5 billion (2006 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$313 million (2004 est.)
Currency (code):Algerian dinar (DZD)
Currency code:DZD
Exchange rates:Algerian dinars per US dollar - 73.2 (2006), 73.276 (2005), 72.061(2004), 77.395 (2003), 79.682 (2002)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Algeria
Telephones - main lines in use:2.572 million (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:13.661 million (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: telephone density in Algeria is very low, notexceeding five telephones per 100 persons; the number of fixed mainlines increased in the last few years to nearly 2.6 million, butonly about two-thirds of these have subscribers; much of theinfrastructure is outdated and inefficientdomestic: good service in north but sparse in south; domesticsatellite system with 12 earth stations (20 additional domesticearth stations are planned)international: country code - 213; submarine cables - 5; microwaveradio relay to Italy, France, Spain, Morocco, and Tunisia; coaxialcable to Morocco and Tunisia; participant in Medarabtel; satelliteearth stations - 51 (Intelsat, Intersputnik, and Arabsat) (2005)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 25, FM 1, shortwave 8 (1999)
Radios:7.1 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:46 (plus 216 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:3.1 million (1997)
Internet country code:.dz
Internet hosts:1,202 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):2 (2000)
Internet users:1.92 million (2005)
Transportation Algeria
Airports: 142 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 52 over 3,047 m: 10 2,438 to 3,047 m: 27 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 90 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 26 914 to 1,523 m: 39 under 914 m: 23 (2006)
Heliports:1 (2006)
Pipelines:condensate 1,344 km; gas 85,946 km; liquid petroleum gas 2,213 km;oil 6,496 km (2005)
Railways:total: 3,973 kmstandard gauge: 2,888 km 1.435-m gauge (283 km electrified)narrow gauge: 1,085 km 1.055-m gauge (2005)
Roadways:total: 108,302 kmpaved: 76,028 kmunpaved: 32,274 km (2004)
Merchant marine:total: 41 ships (1000 GRT or over) 744,406 GRT/766,764 DWTby type: bulk carrier 7, cargo 10, chemical tanker 2, liquefied gas9, passenger/cargo 4, petroleum tanker 5, roll on/roll off 3,specialized tanker 1foreign-owned: 13 (UK 13) (2006)
Ports and terminals:Algiers, Annaba, Arzew, Bejaia, Djendjene, Jijel, Mostaganem, Oran,Skikda
Military Algeria
Military branches:National Popular Army (ANP; includes Land Forces), AlgerianNational Navy (MRA), Air Force (QJJ), Territorial Air Defense Force(2005)
Military service age and obligation:19-30 years of age for compulsory military service; conscriptservice obligation - 18 months (6 months basic training, 12 monthscivil projects) (2006)
Manpower available for military service:males age 19-49: 8,033,049females age 19-49: 7,926,351 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 19-49: 6,590,079females age 19-49: 6,711,285 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 374,639females age 19-49: 369,021 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$3 billion (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:3.2% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Algeria
Disputes - international:Algeria supports the exiled Sahrawi Polisario Front and rejectsMoroccan administration of Western Sahara; most of the approximately102,000 Western Saharan Sahrawi refugees are sheltered in camps inTindouf, Algeria; Algeria's border with Morocco remains an irritantto bilateral relations, each nation accusing the other of harboringmilitants and arms smuggling; in an attempt to improve relations,Morocco, in mid-2004, unilaterally lifted the requirement thatAlgerians visiting Morocco possess entry visas - a gesture notreciprocated by Algeria; Algeria remains concerned about armedbandits operating throughout the Sahel who sometimes destabilizesouthern Algerian towns; dormant disputes include Libyan claims ofabout 32,000 sq km still reflected on its maps of southeasternAlgeria and the FLN's assertions of a claim to Chirac Pastures insoutheastern Morocco
Refugees and internally displaced persons:refugees (country of origin): 90,000 (Western Saharan Sahrawi,mostly living in Algerian-sponsored camps in the southwesternAlgerian town of Tindouf)IDPs: 400,000-600,000 (conflict between government forces, Islamicinsurgents) (2006)
Trafficking in persons:current situation: Algeria is a transit and destination country formen, women, and children from sub-Saharan Africa and Asia traffickedfor forced labor and sexual exploitation; many victims willinglymigrate to Algeria en route to European countries with the help ofsmugglers, where they are often forced into prostitution, labor, andbegging to pay off their smuggling debt; armed militants reportedlytraffic women for sexual exploitation and involuntary servitude, andchildren may be trafficked for forced labor as domestic servants orstreet vendorstier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Algeria took no steps to assess thescope of trafficking in the country and reported no investigationsor prosecutions for trafficking offenses this year
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007
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@American Samoa
Introduction American Samoa
Background:Settled as early as 1000 B.C., Samoa was "discovered" by Europeanexplorers in the 18th century. International rivalries in the latterhalf of the 19th century were settled by an 1899 treaty in whichGermany and the US divided the Samoan archipelago. The US formallyoccupied its portion - a smaller group of eastern islands with theexcellent harbor of Pago Pago - the following year.
Geography American Samoa
Location:Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand
Geographic coordinates:14 20 S, 170 00 W
Map references:Oceania
Area:total: 199 sq kmland: 199 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmnote: includes Rose Island and Swains Island
Area - comparative:slightly larger than Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:116 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical marine, moderated by southeast trade winds; annualrainfall averages about 3 m; rainy season (November to April), dryseason (May to October); little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain:five volcanic islands with rugged peaks and limited coastal plains,two coral atolls (Rose Island, Swains Island)
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 mhighest point: Lata Mountain 964 m
Natural resources:pumice, pumicite
Land use:arable land: 10%permanent crops: 15%other: 75% (2005)
Irrigated land:NA
Natural hazards:typhoons common from December to March
Environment - current issues:limited natural fresh water resources; the water division of thegovernment has spent substantial funds in the past few years toimprove water catchments and pipelines
Geography - note:Pago Pago has one of the best natural deepwater harbors in theSouth Pacific Ocean, sheltered by shape from rough seas andprotected by peripheral mountains from high winds; strategiclocation in the South Pacific Ocean
People American Samoa
Population:57,794 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 34.7% (male 10,388/female 9,654)15-64 years: 62.4% (male 18,698/female 17,350)65 years and over: 2.9% (male 633/female 1,071) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 23.2 yearsmale: 22.9 yearsfemale: 23.4 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:-0.19% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:22.46 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:3.27 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:-21.11 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: 1.08 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 9.07 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 9.66 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 8.45 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 76.05 yearsmale: 72.48 yearsfemale: 79.82 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:3.16 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: American Samoan(s) (US nationals)adjective: American Samoan
Ethnic groups:native Pacific islander 92.9%, Asian 2.9%, white 1.2%, mixed 2.8%,other 0.2% (2000 census)
Religions:Christian Congregationalist 50%, Roman Catholic 20%, Protestant andother 30%
Languages:Samoan 90.6% (closely related to Hawaiian and other Polynesianlanguages), English 2.9%, Tongan 2.4%, other Pacific islander 2.1%,other 2%note: most people are bilingual (2000 census)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 97%male: 98%female: 97% (1980 est.)
Government American Samoa
Country name:conventional long form: Territory of American Samoaconventional short form: American Samoaabbreviation: AS
Dependency status:unincorporated and unorganized territory of the US; administered bythe Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior
Government type:NA
Capital:name: Pago Pagogeographic coordinates: 14 16 S, 170 42 Wtime difference: UTC-11 (6 hours behind Washington, DC duringStandard Time)
Administrative divisions:none (territory of the US); there are no first-order administrativedivisions as defined by the US Government, but there are threedistricts and two islands* at the second order; Eastern, Manu'a,Rose Island*, Swains Island*, Western
Independence:none (territory of the US)
National holiday:Flag Day, 17 April (1900)
Constitution:ratified 2 June 1966, effective 1 July 1967
Legal system:NA
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
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 Togiola TULAFONO (since 7 April 2003)cabinet: Cabinet made up of 12 department directorselections: under the US Consitution, residents of unincorporatedterritories, such as American Samoa, do not vote in elections for USpresident and vice president; governor and lieutenant governorelected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms(eligible for a second term); election last held 2 and 16 November2004 (next to be held November 2008)election results: Togiola TULAFONO elected governor; percent of vote- Togiola TULAFONO 55.7%, Afoa Moega LUTU 44.3%
Legislative branch:bicameral Fono or Legislative Assembly consists of the House ofRepresentatives (21 seats - 20 of which are elected by popular voteand 1 is an appointed, nonvoting delegate from Swains Island;members serve two-year terms) and the Senate (18 seats; members areelected from local chiefs and serve four-year terms)elections: House of Representatives - last held 7 November 2006(next to be held November 2008); Senate - last held 2 November 2004(next to be held November 2008)election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote byparty - NA; seats by party - NA; Senate - percent of vote by party -NA; seats by party - independents 18note: American Samoa elects one nonvoting representative to the USHouse of Representatives; election last held 7 November 2006 (nextto be held November 2008); results - Eni F. H. FALEOMAVAEGA(Democrat) reelected as delegate
Judicial branch:High Court (chief justice and associate justices are appointed bythe US Secretary of the Interior)
Political parties and leaders:Democratic Party [Oreta M. TOGAFAU]; Republican Party [Tautai A. F.FAALEVAO]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:Interpol (subbureau), 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:blue, with a white triangle edged in red that is based on the outerside and extends to the hoist side; a brown and white American baldeagle flying toward the hoist side is carrying two traditionalSamoan symbols of authority, a staff and a war club
Economy American Samoa
Economy - overview:American Samoa has a traditional Polynesian economy in which morethan 90% of the land is communally owned. Economic activity isstrongly linked to the US with which American Samoa conducts most ofits foreign trade. Tuna fishing and tuna processing plants are thebackbone of the private sector, with canned tuna the primary export.Transfers from the US Government add substantially to AmericanSamoa's economic well being. Attempts by the government to develop alarger and broader economy are restrained by Samoa's remotelocation, its limited transportation, and its devastatinghurricanes. Tourism is a promising developing sector.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$510.1 million (2003 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$333.8 million (2005)
GDP - real growth rate:3% (2003)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$5,800 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Labor force: 17,630 (2005)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 34% industry: 33% services: 33% (1990)
Unemployment rate:29.8% (2005)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):NA%
Budget:revenues: $121 million (37% in local revenue and 63% in US grants)expenditures: $127 million; including capital expenditures of $NA(FY96/97)
Agriculture - products:bananas, coconuts, vegetables, taro, breadfruit, yams, copra,pineapples, papayas; dairy products, livestock
Industries:tuna canneries (largely supplied by foreign fishing vessels),handicrafts
Industrial production growth rate:NA%
Electricity - production:128 million kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:119 million kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2004)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - consumption:3,900 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:$445.6 million (FY04 est.)
Exports - commodities:canned tuna 93% (2004 est.)
Exports - partners:Indonesia 28.2%, India 22.3%, Australia 15.3%, Japan 11.2%, NZ 7.1%(2005)
Imports:$308.8 million (FY04 est.)
Imports - commodities:materials for canneries 56%, food 8%, petroleum products 7%,machinery and parts 6% (2004 est.)
Imports - partners:Australia 66%, Samoa 13.8%, NZ 10.8% (2005)
Debt - external:$NA
Economic aid - recipient:important financial support from the US, more than $40 million in1994
Currency (code):US dollar (USD)
Currency code:USD
Exchange rates:the US dollar is used
Fiscal year:1 October - 30 September
Communications American Samoa
Telephones - main lines in use:15,000 (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular:2,377 (1999)
Telephone system:general assessment: NAdomestic: good telex, telegraph, facsimile and cellular telephoneservices; domestic satellite system with 1 Comsat earth stationinternational: country code - 684; satellite earth station - 1(Intelsat-Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0 (2006)
Radios:57,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:1 (Low Power TV); note - one cable TV station (2006)
Televisions:14,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.as
Internet hosts:1,456 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2000)
Internet users:NA
Transportation American Samoa
Airports: 3 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 1under 914 m: 1 (2006)
Roadways:total: 185 km (2004)
Ports and terminals:Pago Pago
Military American Samoa
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues American Samoa
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007
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@Andorra
Introduction Andorra
Background:For 715 years, from 1278 to 1993, Andorrans lived under a uniqueco-principality, ruled by French and Spanish leaders (from 1607onward, the French chief of state and the Spanish bishop of Urgel).In 1993, this feudal system was modified with the titular heads ofstate retained, but the government transformed into a parliamentarydemocracy. Long isolated and impoverished, mountainous Andorraachieved considerable prosperity since World War II through itstourist industry. Many immigrants (legal and illegal) are attractedto the thriving economy with its lack of income taxes.
Geography Andorra
Location:Southwestern Europe, between France and Spain
Geographic coordinates:42 30 N, 1 30 E
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 468 sq kmland: 468 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 120.3 km border countries: France 56.6 km, Spain 63.7 km
Coastline:0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:none (landlocked)
Climate:temperate; snowy, cold winters and warm, dry summers
Terrain:rugged mountains dissected by narrow valleys
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Riu Runer 840 m highest point: Coma Pedrosa 2,946 m
Natural resources: hydropower, mineral water, timber, iron ore, lead
Land use: arable land: 2.13% permanent crops: 0% other: 97.87% (2005)
Irrigated land:NA
Natural hazards:avalanches
Environment - current issues:deforestation; overgrazing of mountain meadows contributes to soilerosion; air pollution; wastewater treatment and solid waste disposal
Environment - international agreements:party to: Hazardous Wastes, Biodiversitysigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:landlocked; straddles a number of important crossroads in thePyrenees
People Andorra
Population:71,201 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 14.7% (male 5,456/female 4,994)15-64 years: 71.4% (male 26,632/female 24,172)65 years and over: 14% (male 4,918/female 5,029) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 40.9 yearsmale: 41.2 yearsfemale: 40.7 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:0.89% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:8.71 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:6.25 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:6.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.07 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.09 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.1 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.98 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.08 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 4.04 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 4.38 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 3.68 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 83.51 yearsmale: 80.61 yearsfemale: 86.61 years (2006 est.)