Political pressure groups and leaders:Maoist guerrilla-based insurgency [Pushpa Kamal DAHAL, a.k.a.PRACHANDA, chairman; Dr. Baburam BHATTARAI, deputy]; numerous small,left-leaning student groups in the capital; several small, radicalNepalese antimonarchist groups
International organization participation:AsDB, BIMSTEC, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IOM (observer), IPU,ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM, ONUB,OPCW, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIL,UNMIS, UNOCI, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant)chancery: 2131 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone: [1] (202) 667-4550FAX: [1] (202) 667-5534consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador James F. MORIARTYembassy: Panipokhari, Kathmandumailing address: use embassy street addresstelephone: [977] (1) 411-1179FAX: [977] (1) 441-9963
Flag description:red with a blue border around the unique shape of two overlappingright triangles; the smaller, upper triangle bears a white stylizedmoon and the larger, lower triangle bears a white 12-pointed sun
Economy Nepal
Economy - overview:Nepal is among the poorest and least developed countries in theworld with almost one-third of its population living below thepoverty line. Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy, providinga livelihood for three-fourths of the population and accounting for38% of GDP. Industrial activity mainly involves the processing ofagricultural produce including jute, sugarcane, tobacco, and grain.Security concerns relating to the Maoist conflict have led to adecrease in tourism, a key source of foreign exchange. Nepal hasconsiderable scope for exploiting its potential in hydropower andtourism, areas of recent foreign investment interest. Prospects forforeign trade or investment in other sectors will remain poor,however, because of the small size of the economy, its technologicalbackwardness, its remoteness, its landlocked geographic location,its civil strife, and its susceptibility to natural disaster.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$41.92 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$7.154 billion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:5% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$1,500 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 38% industry: 21% services: 41% (2005 est.)
Labor force: 10.4 million note: severe lack of skilled labor (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 76% industry: 6% services: 18%
Unemployment rate:42% (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line:31% (2003-2004)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.6% highest 10%: 39.1% (2003-2004)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:37.7 (FY04/05)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):7.8% (October 2005 est.)
Budget:revenues: $1.153 billionexpenditures: $1.789 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA(FY05/06)
Agriculture - products:rice, corn, wheat, sugarcane, root crops; milk, water buffalo meat
Industries:tourism, carpet, textile; small rice, jute, sugar, and oilseedmills; cigarettes, cement and brick production
Industrial production growth rate:3.8% (FY04/05)
Electricity - production:2.565 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 8.5% hydro: 91.5% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:1.85 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity - exports:111 million kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports:241 million kWh (2005)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:11,980 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - exports:NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:11,760 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Exports:$822 million f.o.b.; note - does not include unrecorded bordertrade with India (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:carpets, clothing, leather goods, jute goods, grain
Exports - partners:India 53.7%, US 17.4%, Germany 7.1% (2005)
Imports:$2 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - commodities:gold, machinery and equipment, petroleum products, fertilizer
Imports - partners:India 47.7%, UAE 11.2%, China 10.8%, Saudi Arabia 4.9%, Kuwait 4.2%(2005)
Debt - external:$3.34 billion (March 2005)
Economic aid - recipient:$424 million (FY00/01)
Currency (code):Nepalese rupee (NPR)
Currency code:NPR
Exchange rates:Nepalese rupees per US dollar - 71.368 (2005), 73.674 (2004),76.141 (2003), 77.877 (2002)
Fiscal year:16 July - 15 July
Communications Nepal
Telephones - main lines in use:448,600 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:248,800 (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: poor telephone and telegraph service; fairradiotelephone communication service and mobile cellular telephonenetworkdomestic: NAinternational: country code - 977; radiotelephone communications;microwave landline to India; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat(Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 6, FM 5, shortwave 1 (January 2000)
Radios:840,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:1 (plus 9 repeaters) (1998)
Televisions:130,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.np
Internet hosts:17,789 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):6 (2000)
Internet users:175,000 (2005)
Transportation Nepal
Airports: 48 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 10over 3,047 m: 1914 to 1,523 m: 7under 914 m: 2 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 381,524 to 2,437 m: 1914 to 1,523 m: 8under 914 m: 29 (2006)
Railways: total: 59 km narrow gauge: 59 km 0.762-m gauge (2005)
Roadways: total: 17,380 km paved: 9,886 km unpaved: 7,494 km (2004)
Military Nepal
Military branches:Royal Nepalese Army (includes Royal Nepalese Army Air Service);Nepalese Police Force
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 6,107,091females age 18-49: 5,744,989 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 4.193 millionfemales age 18-49: 3,853,102 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 308,031females age 18-49: 286,604 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$104.9 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.5% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Nepal
Disputes - international:joint border commission continues to work on contested sections ofboundary with India, including the 400 square kilometer dispute overthe source of the Kalapani River; India has instituted a stricterborder regime to restrict transit of Maoist insurgents and illegalcross-border activities; approximately 103,000 Bhutanese Lhotshampas(Hindus) have been confined in refugee camps in southeastern Nepalsince 1990
Refugees and internally displaced persons:refugees (country of origin): 106,248 (Bhutan), 20,153 (Tibet/China)IDPs: 100,000-200,000 (ongoing conflict between government forcesand Maoist rebels; displacement spread across the country) (2006)
Illicit drugs:illicit producer of cannabis and hashish for the domestic andinternational drug markets; transit point for opiates from SoutheastAsia to the West
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007
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@Netherlands
Introduction Netherlands
Background:The Dutch United Provinces declared their independence from Spainin 1579; during the 17th century, they became a leading seafaringand commercial power, with settlements and colonies around theworld. After a 20-year French occupation, a Kingdom of theNetherlands was formed in 1815. In 1830 Belgium seceded and formed aseparate kingdom. The Netherlands remained neutral in World War I,but suffered invasion and occupation by Germany in World War II. Amodern, industrialized nation, the Netherlands is also a largeexporter of agricultural products. The country was a founding memberof NATO and the EEC (now the EU), and participated in theintroduction of the euro in 1999.
Geography Netherlands
Location:Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between Belgium and Germany
Geographic coordinates:52 30 N, 5 45 E
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 41,526 sq kmland: 33,883 sq kmwater: 7,643 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey
Land boundaries: total: 1,027 km border countries: Belgium 450 km, Germany 577 km
Coastline: 451 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate:temperate; marine; cool summers and mild winters
Terrain:mostly coastal lowland and reclaimed land (polders); some hills insoutheast
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Zuidplaspolder -7 mhighest point: Vaalserberg 322 m
Natural resources:natural gas, petroleum, peat, limestone, salt, sand and gravel,arable land
Land use: arable land: 21.96% permanent crops: 0.77% other: 77.27% (2005)
Irrigated land:5,650 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:flooding
Environment - current issues:water pollution in the form of heavy metals, organic compounds, andnutrients such as nitrates and phosphates; air pollution fromvehicles and refining activities; acid rain
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, AirPollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85,Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources,Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, EnvironmentalModification, Hazardous Wastes, Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea,Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection,Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands,Whaling
Geography - note:located at mouths of three major European rivers (Rhine, Maas orMeuse, and Schelde)
People Netherlands
Population:16,491,461 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 18% (male 1,515,123/female 1,445,390)15-64 years: 67.8% (male 5,656,448/female 5,525,481)65 years and over: 14.2% (male 994,723/female 1,354,296) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 39.4 yearsmale: 38.6 yearsfemale: 40.2 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:0.49% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:10.9 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:8.68 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:2.72 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 4.96 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 5.52 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 4.38 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 78.96 yearsmale: 76.39 yearsfemale: 81.67 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.66 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.2% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:19,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 100 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Dutchman(men), Dutchwoman(women)adjective: Dutch
Ethnic groups:Dutch 83%, other 17% (of which 9% are non-Western origin mainlyTurks, Moroccans, Antilleans, Surinamese, and Indonesians) (1999est.)
Religions:Roman Catholic 31%, Dutch Reformed 13%, Calvinist 7%, Muslim 5.5%,other 2.5%, none 41% (2002)
Languages:Dutch (official), Frisian (official)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99%male: 99%female: 99% (2003 est.)
Government Netherlands
Country name:conventional long form: Kingdom of the Netherlandsconventional short form: Netherlandslocal long form: Koninkrijk der Nederlandenlocal short form: Nederland
Government type:constitutional monarchy
Capital:name: Amsterdamgeographic coordinates: 52 23 N, 4 54 Etime difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends lastSunday in Octobernote: The Hague (seat of government)
Administrative divisions:12 provinces (provincies, singular - provincie); Drenthe,Flevoland, Friesland (Fryslan), Gelderland, Groningen, Limburg,Noord-Brabant (North Brabant), Noord-Holland (North Holland),Overijssel, Utrecht, Zeeland, Zuid-Holland (South Holland)
Dependent areas:Aruba, Netherlands Antilles
Independence:23 January 1579 (the northern provinces of the Low Countriesconclude the Union of Utrecht breaking with Spain; on 26 July 1581they formally declared their independence with an Act of Abjuration;however, it was not until 30 January 1648 and the Peace ofWestphalia that Spain recognized this independence)
National holiday:Queen's Day (Birthday of Queen-Mother JULIANA in 1909 and accessionto the throne of her oldest daughter BEATRIX in 1980), 30 April
Constitution:adopted 1815; amended many times, most recently in 2002
Legal system:civil law system incorporating French penal theory; constitutiondoes not permit judicial review of acts of the States General;accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen BEATRIX (since 30 April 1980); Heir ApparentWILLEM-ALEXANDER (born 27 April 1967), son of the monarchhead of government: Prime Minister Jan Peter BALKENENDE (since 22July 2002) and Deputy Prime Ministers Gerrit ZALM (since 27 May2003) and Laurens Jan BRINKHORST (since 31 March 2005)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarchelections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; following SecondChamber elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of amajority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by themonarch; vice prime ministers appointed by the monarchnote: there is also a Council of State composed of the monarch, heirapparent, and councilors that provides consultations to the cabineton legislative and administrative policy
Legislative branch:bicameral States General or Staten Generaal consists of the FirstChamber or Eerste Kamer (75 seats; members indirectly elected by thecountry's 12 provincial councils for four-year terms) and the SecondChamber or Tweede Kamer (150 seats; members directly elected bypopular vote to serve four-year terms)elections: First Chamber - last held 25 May 2003 (next to be heldMay 2007); Second Chamber - last held 22 November 2006 (next to beheld by early 2011)election results: First Chamber - percent of vote by party - NA%;seats by party - CDA 23, PvdA 19, VVD 15, Green Party 5, SocialistParty 4, D66 3, other 6; Second Chamber - percent of vote by party -CDA 26.5%, PvdA 21.2%, Socialist Party 16.6%, VVD 14.6%, Party forFreedom 5.9%, Green Party 4.6%, Christian Union 4.0%; seats by party- CDA 41, PvdA 33, Socialist Party 25, VVD 22, Party for Freedom 9,Green Party 7, Christian Union 6, other 7
Judicial branch:Supreme Court or Hoge Raad (justices are nominated for life by themonarch)
Political parties and leaders:Christian Democratic Appeal or CDA [Jan Peter BALKENENDE];Christian Union Party [Andre ROUVOET]; Democrats 66 or D66[Alexander PECHTOLD]; Green Left Party [Femke HALSEMA]; Labor Partyor PvdA [Wouter BOS]; List Pim Fortuyn [Olaf STUGER]; Party forFreedom [Geert WILDERS]; People's Party for Freedom and Democracy(Liberal) or VVD [Mark RUTTE]; Socialist Party [Jan MARIJNISSEN];Party for Freedom or PVV [Geert WILDERS]; Party for the Animals orPvdD [Marianne THIEME]; Reformed Political Party of SGP [Bas VAN DERVLIES]; plus a few minor parties
Political pressure groups and leaders:Netherlands Trade Union Federation or FNV (consisting of a mergerof Socialist and Catholic trade unions); Christian Trade UnionFederation or CNV; Trade Union Federation of Middle and HighPersonnel or MHP; Federation of Catholic and Protestant EmployersAssociations; Interchurch Peace Council or IKV; large multinationalfirms; the nondenominational Federation of Netherlands Enterprises
International organization participation:AfDB, Arctic Council (observer), AsDB, Australia Group, Benelux,BIS, CBSS (observer), CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO,G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC,IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC,MIGA, MONUC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD,OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, SECI (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIS, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU, WHO,WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Christiaan Mark Johan KRONERchancery: 4200 Linnean Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone: [1] (202) 244-5300FAX: [1] (202) 362-3430consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New Yorkconsulate(s): Boston
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Roland E. ARNALLembassy: Lange Voorhout 102, 2514 EJ, The Haguemailing address: PSC 71, Box 1000, APO AE 09715telephone: [31] (70) 310-2209FAX: [31] (70) 361-4688consulate(s) general: Amsterdam
Flag description:three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue; similarto the flag of Luxembourg, which uses a lighter blue and is longer;one of the oldest flags in constant use, originating with WILLIAM I,Prince of Orange, in the latter half of the 16th century
Economy Netherlands
Economy - overview:The Netherlands has a prosperous and open economy, which dependsheavily on foreign trade. The economy is noted for stable industrialrelations, moderate unemployment and inflation, a sizable currentaccount surplus, and an important role as a European transportationhub. Industrial activity is predominantly in food processing,chemicals, petroleum refining, and electrical machinery. A highlymechanized agricultural sector employs no more than 2% of the laborforce but provides large surpluses for the food-processing industryand for exports. The Netherlands, along with 11 of its EU partners,began circulating the euro currency on 1 January 2002. The countrycontinues to be one of the leading European nations for attractingforeign direct investment. Economic growth slowed considerably in2001-06, as part of the global economic slowdown, but for the fouryears before that, annual growth averaged nearly 4%, well above theEU average.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$512 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$612.7 billion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:2.9% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$31,700 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 2.1% industry: 23.9% services: 73.9% (2006 est.)
Labor force: 7.6 million (2006 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 2% industry: 19% services: 79% (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate:5.5% (2006 est.)
Population below poverty line:10.5% (1999)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.5% highest 10%: 22.9% (1999)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:30.9 (2005)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):1.4% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):19.3% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget:revenues: $304.3 billionexpenditures: $306.5 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA(2006 est.)
Public debt:50.8% of GDP (2006 est.)
Agriculture - products:grains, potatoes, sugar beets, fruits, vegetables; livestock
Industries:agroindustries, metal and engineering products, electricalmachinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum, construction,microelectronics, fishing
Industrial production growth rate:2.3% (2006 est.)
Electricity - production:92.7 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 89.9% hydro: 0.1% nuclear: 4.3% other: 5.7% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:102.4 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:5.2 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:21.4 billion kWh (2004)
Oil - production:95,800 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - consumption:946,700 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports:1.418 million bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:2.284 million bbl/day (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:88.06 million bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:85.98 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:51.3 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - exports:53.56 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - imports:18.85 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:1.756 trillion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)
Current account balance:$50.17 billion (2006 est.)
Exports:$413.8 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Exports - commodities:machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels; foodstuffs
Exports - partners:Germany 24.9%, Belgium 13%, France 9.4%, UK 9.2%, Italy 5.7%, US4.3%, Spain 4.1% (2005)
Imports:$373.8 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, fuels, foodstuffs,clothing
Imports - partners:Germany 16.6%, Belgium 9.3%, China 8.8%, US 7.6%, UK 5.8%, France4.7%, Russia 4.4% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$10.24 billion (August 2006 est.)
Debt - external:$1.899 trillion (30 June 2006)
Economic aid - donor:ODA, $4 billion (2003 est.)
Currency (code):euro (EUR)note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced theeuro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions ofmember countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the solecurrency for everyday transactions within the member countries
Currency code:EUR
Exchange rates:euros per US dollar - 0.79669 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004),0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Netherlands
Telephones - main lines in use:7.6 million (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:15.834 million (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: highly developed and well maintaineddomestic: extensive fixed-line fiber-optic network; cellulartelephone system is one of the largest in Europe with five majornetwork operators utilizing the third generation of the GlobalSystem for Mobile Communications (GSM)international: country code - 31; 9 submarine cables; satelliteearth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 2 Atlantic Ocean), 1Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions) (2004)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 4, FM 246, shortwave 3 (2004)
Radios:15.3 million (1996)
Television broadcast stations:21 (plus 26 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:8.1 million (1997)
Internet country code:.nl
Internet hosts:8,363,158 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):52 (2000)
Internet users:10,806,328 (2004)
Transportation Netherlands
Airports: 27 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 20 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 2 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 7914 to 1,523 m: 3under 914 m: 4 (2006)
Heliports:1 (2006)
Pipelines:condensate 81 km; gas 7,229 km; oil 578 km; refined products 716 km(2006)
Railways:total: 2,808 kmstandard gauge: 2,808 km 1.435-m gauge (2,061 km electrified) (2005)
Roadways:total: 134,000 km (including 3,270 km of expressways) (2004)
Waterways:6,183 km (navigable for ships of 50 tons) (2005)
Merchant marine:total: 558 ships (1000 GRT or over) 5,042,775 GRT/5,016,265 DWTby type: bulk carrier 29, cargo 345, chemical tanker 29, container59, liquefied gas 12, passenger 14, passenger/cargo 14, petroleumtanker 16, refrigerated cargo 19, roll on/roll off 18, specializedtanker 3foreign-owned: 157 (Australia 1, Belgium 2, Denmark 9, Finland 13,Germany 56, Ireland 10, Netherlands Antilles 1, Norway 7, Sweden 26,UK 19, US 13)registered in other countries: 222 (Antigua and Barbuda 14,Australia 2, Austria 2, Bahamas 24, Canada 1, Cayman Islands 4,Cyprus 18, Gibraltar 5, Isle of Man 1, Liberia 29, Luxembourg 2,Malta 6, Marshall Islands 1, Netherlands Antilles 54, Norway 3,Panama 21, Philippines 19, Portugal 1, Saint Vincent and theGrenadines 5, Singapore 2, UK 3, US 4, unknown 1) (2006)
Ports and terminals:Amsterdam, Groningen, IJmuiden, Rotterdam, Terneuzen, Vlissingen,Zaanstad
Military Netherlands
Military branches:Royal Netherlands Army, Royal Netherlands Navy (includes Naval AirService and Marine Corps), Royal Netherlands Air Force (KoninklijkeLuchtmacht, KLu), Royal Military Police, Defense InterserviceCommand (DICO) (2006)
Military service age and obligation:20 years of age for an all-volunteer force (2004)
Manpower available for military service:males age 20-49: 3,557,918females age 20-49: 3,470,377 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 20-49: 2,856,691females age 20-49: 2,786,495 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 99,934females age 20-49: 95,818 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$9.408 billion (2004)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.6% (2004)
Transnational Issues Netherlands
Disputes - international:none
Illicit drugs:major European producer of ecstasy, illicit amphetamines, and othersynthetic drugs; important gateway for cocaine, heroin, and hashishentering Europe; major source of US-bound ecstasy; large financialsector vulnerable to money laundering
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007
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@Netherlands Antilles
Introduction Netherlands Antilles
Background:Once the center of the Caribbean slave trade, the island of Curacaowas hard hit by the abolition of slavery in 1863. Its prosperity(and that of neighboring Aruba) was restored in the early 20thcentury with the construction of oil refineries to service the newlydiscovered Venezuelan oil fields. The island of Saint Martin isshared with France; its southern portion is named Sint Maarten andis part of the Netherlands Antilles; its northern portion is calledSaint-Martin and is part of Guadeloupe (France).
Geography Netherlands Antilles
Location:Caribbean, two island groups in the Caribbean Sea - composed offive islands, Curacao and Bonaire located off the coast ofVenezuela, and St. Maarten, Saba, and St. Eustatius lie east of theUS Virgin Islands
Geographic coordinates:12 15 N, 68 45 W
Map references:Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total: 960 sq kmland: 960 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmnote: includes Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and SintMaarten (Dutch part of the island of Saint Martin)
Area - comparative:more than five times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 15 km border countries: Guadeloupe (Saint-Martin) 15 km
Coastline: 364 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm
Climate:tropical; ameliorated by northeast trade winds
Terrain:generally hilly, volcanic interiors
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Scenery 862 m
Natural resources: phosphates (Curacao only), salt (Bonaire only)
Land use: arable land: 10% permanent crops: 0% other: 90% (2005)
Irrigated land:NA
Natural hazards:Curacao and Bonaire are south of Caribbean hurricane belt and arerarely threatened; Sint Maarten, Saba, and Sint Eustatius aresubject to hurricanes from July to October
Environment - current issues:NA
Geography - note:the five islands of the Netherlands Antilles are dividedgeographically into the Leeward Islands (northern) group (Saba, SintEustatius, and Sint Maarten) and the Windward Islands (southern)group (Bonaire and Curacao)
People Netherlands Antilles
Population:221,736 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 23.9% (male 27,197/female 25,886)15-64 years: 67.3% (male 71,622/female 77,710)65 years and over: 8.7% (male 7,925/female 11,396) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 32.8 yearsmale: 31.1 yearsfemale: 34.4 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:0.79% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:14.78 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:6.45 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:-0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 9.76 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 10.54 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 8.93 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 76.03 yearsmale: 73.76 yearsfemale: 78.41 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.99 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: Dutch Antillean(s) adjective: Dutch Antillean
Ethnic groups:mixed black 85%, Carib Amerindian, white, East Asian
Religions:Roman Catholic 72%, Pentecostal 4.9%, Protestant 3.5%, Seventh-DayAdventist 3.1%, Methodist 2.9%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.7%, otherChristian 4.2%, Jewish 1.3%, other or unspecified 1.2%, none 5.2%(2001 census)
Languages:Papiamento 65.4% (a Spanish-Portuguese-Dutch-English dialect),English 15.9% (widely spoken), Dutch 7.3% (official), Spanish 6.1%,Creole 1.6%, other 1.9%, unspecified 1.8% (2001 census)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 96.7%male: 96.7%female: 96.8% (2003 est.)
Government Netherlands Antilles
Country name:conventional long form: noneconventional short form: Netherlands Antilleslocal long form: nonelocal short form: Nederlandse Antillenformer: Curacao and Dependencies
Dependency status:an autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands; fullautonomy in internal affairs granted in 1954; Dutch Governmentresponsible for defense and foreign affairs
Government type:parliamentary
Capital:name: Willemstad (on Curacao)geographic coordinates: 12 06 N, 68 56 Wtime difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)
Administrative divisions: none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands) note: each island has its own government
Independence:none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
National holiday:Queen's Day (Birthday of Queen-Mother JULIANA in 1909 and accessionto the throne of her oldest daughter BEATRIX in 1980), 30 April
Constitution:29 December 1954, Statute of the Realm of the Netherlands, asamended
Legal system:based on Dutch civil law system with some English common lawinfluence
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen BEATRIX of the Netherlands (since 30 April1980), represented by Governor General Frits GOEDGEDRAG (since 1July 2002)head of government: Prime Minister Emily de JONGH-ELHAGE (since 26March 2006)cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the Staten (legislature)elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed bythe monarch for a six-year term; following legislative elections,the leader of the majority party is usually elected prime ministerby the Staten; election last held 27 January 2006 (next to be heldby 2007)note: government coalition - PAR, PNP, DP St. Maarten, UP Bonaire,WIPM Saba, DP Statia
Legislative branch:unicameral States or Staten (22 seats - Curacao 14, Bonaire 3, St.Maarten 3, St. Eustatius 1, Saba 1; members are elected by popularvote to serve four-year terms)elections: last held 27 January 2006 (next to be held in 2010)election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -PAR 5, MAN 3, FOL 2, Forsa Korsou 2, National Alliance 2, PNP 2, UPB2, DP St. E 1, DP St. M 1, BDP 1, WIPM 1note: the government of Prime Minister Emily de JONGH-ELHAGE is acoalition of several parties
Judicial branch:Joint High Court of Justice (judges appointed by the monarch)
Political parties and leaders:Bonaire: Democratic Party of Bonaire or PDB [Jopi ABRAHAM];Patriotic Union of Bonaire or UPB [Ramonsito BOOI]Curacao: Ban Vota [Norbert GEORGE]; C-93 [Stanley BROWN]; DemocraticParty of Curacao or DP [Errol HERNANDEZ]; E Mayoria [Aurelio PEDRO];Forsa Korsou [Nelson NAVARRO]; Liste Ni'un Paso Atras [NelsonPIERRE]; Movemiento Patriotiko Korsou [Reginald LAK]; New AntillesMovement or MAN [Charles COOPER]; Partido Akshon Pa Prosperidat ISeguridat [Sonja BERKEMEYER]; Partido Laboral Krusada Popular orPLKP [Errol COVA]; Party for the Restructured Antilles or PAR [Emilyde JONGH-ELHAGE]; People's National Party or PNP [Ersilia DELANNOOY]; Pidjin [Jasmin PINEDO]; Pueblo Soberano [Herman WIELS];Workers' Liberation Front or FOL [Anthony GODETT]Saba: Saba Labor Party [Akilah LEVENSTONE]; Windward IslandsPeople's Movement or WIPM [Ray HASSELL]Sint Eustatius: Democratic Party of Sint Eustatius or DP-St. E[Julian WOODLEY]; Progressive Labor Party [Clyde VAN PUTTEN]; St.Eustatius Alliance [Ingrid HOUTMAN-WHITFIELD]Sint Maarten: Democratic Party of Sint Maarten or DP-St. M [SarahWESCOTT-WILLIAMS]; Freedom Slate of National Democratic Party[Theophilus PRIEST]; National Alliance or NA [William MARLIN];People's Progressive Alliance or PPA [Gracita ARRINDELL]; St.Maarten People's Party [Johan LEONARD]; United People's Labor Party[Bienvenido RICHARDSON]note: political parties are indigenous to each island
Political pressure groups and leaders:Unions (AVBO) and Employers Association (VBC)
International organization participation:ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, UNESCO (associate), UNWTO (associate),UPU, WCL, WCO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (represented by the Kingdom of the Netherlands); note - Mr. Jeffrey CORRION, Minister Plenipotentiary for Aruba at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Consul General Robert E. SORENSONconsulate(s) general: J. B. Gorsiraweg #1, Willemstad, Curacaomailing address: P. O. Box 158, Willemstad, Curacaotelephone: [599] (9) 4613066FAX: [599] (9) 4616489
Flag description:white, with a horizontal blue stripe in the center superimposed ona vertical red band, also centered; five white, five-pointed starsare arranged in an oval pattern in the center of the blue band; thefive stars represent the five main islands of Bonaire, Curacao,Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten
Economy Netherlands Antilles
Economy - overview:Tourism, petroleum refining, and offshore finance are the mainstaysof this small economy, which is closely tied to the outside world.Although GDP has declined or grown slightly in each of the pasteight years, the islands enjoy a high per capita income and awell-developed infrastructure compared with other countries in theregion. Almost all consumer and capital goods are imported, the USand Mexico being the major suppliers. Poor soils and inadequatewater supplies hamper the development of agriculture. Budgetaryproblems hamper reform of the health and pension systems of an agingpopulation.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$2.8 billion (2004 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):NA
GDP - real growth rate:1% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$16,000 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 1% industry: 15% services: 84% (2000 est.)
Labor force: 83,600 (2005)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 1% industry: 20% services: 79% (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate:17% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):2.1% (2003 est.)
Budget:revenues: $757.9 millionexpenditures: $949.5 million; including capital expenditures of $NA(2004)
Agriculture - products:aloes, sorghum, peanuts, vegetables, tropical fruit
Industries:tourism (Curacao, Sint Maarten, and Bonaire), petroleum refining(Curacao), petroleum transshipment facilities (Curacao and Bonaire),light manufacturing (Curacao)
Industrial production growth rate:NA%
Electricity - production:1.005 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:934.7 million kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2004)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:70,000 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:$2.076 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:petroleum products
Exports - partners:US 29.4%, Panama 14.4%, Mexico 8.8%, Haiti 5.6%, Venezuela 4.9%,Bahamas, The 4.4% (2005)
Imports:$4.383 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:crude petroleum, food, manufactures
Imports - partners:Venezuela 50.7%, US 20.8%, Italy 4.8%, Netherlands 4.5% (2005)
Debt - external:$2.68 billion (2004)
Economic aid - recipient:$21.5 million IMF provided $61 million in 2000, and the Netherlandscontinued its support with $40 million (2004)
Currency (code):Netherlands Antillean guilder (ANG)
Currency code:ANG
Exchange rates:Netherlands Antillean guilders per US dollar - 1.79 (2005), 1.79(2004), 1.79 (2003), 1.79 (2002)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Netherlands Antilles
Telephones - main lines in use:81,000 (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular:200,000 (2004)
Telephone system:general assessment: generally adequate facilitiesdomestic: extensive interisland microwave radio relay linksinternational: country code - 599; submarine cables - 2; satelliteearth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 8, FM 19, shortwave 0 (2004)
Radios:217,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 3 (there is also a cable service, which supplies programs received from various US satellite networks and four Venezuelan channels) (2004)
Televisions:69,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.an
Internet hosts:19,204 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):6
Internet users:2,000 (2000)
Transportation Netherlands Antilles
Airports: 5 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 5 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2006)
Merchant marine:total: 152 ships (1000 GRT or over) 1,289,462 GRT/1,671,649 DWTby type: barge carrier 3, bulk carrier 13, cargo 68, chemical tanker3, container 19, liquefied gas 4, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 3,petroleum tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 28, roll on/roll off 4,specialized tanker 3foreign-owned: 143 (Belgium 4, Cuba 1, Denmark 1, Germany 60,Netherlands 54, Norway 5, Sweden 5, Turkey 9, UK 3, US 1)registered in other countries: 1 (Netherlands 1) (2006)
Ports and terminals:Bopec Terminal, Fuik Bay, Kralendijk, Willemstad
Military Netherlands Antilles
Military branches: no regular military forces; National Guard, Police Force (2005)
Military service age and obligation:16 years of age for National Guard recruitment; no conscription(2004)
Manpower available for military service:males age 16-49: 54,200females age 16-49: 56,868 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 16-49: 45,273females age 16-49: 47,166 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 1,720females age 16-49: 1,657 (2005 est.)
Military - note:defense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Transnational Issues Netherlands Antilles
Disputes - international:none
Illicit drugs:transshipment point for South American drugs bound for the US andEurope; money-laundering center
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007
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@New Caledonia
Introduction New Caledonia
Background:Settled by both Britain and France during the first half of the19th century, the island was made a French possession in 1853. Itserved as a penal colony for four decades after 1864. Agitation forindependence during the 1980s and early 1990s ended in the 1998Noumea Accord, which over a period of 15 to 20 years will transferan increasing amount of governing responsibility from France to NewCaledonia. The agreement also commits France to conduct as many asthree referenda between 2013 and 2018, to decide whether NewCaledonia should assume full sovereignty and independence.
Geography New Caledonia
Location:Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Australia
Geographic coordinates:21 30 S, 165 30 E
Map references:Oceania
Area:total: 19,060 sq kmland: 18,575 sq kmwater: 485 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:2,254 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical; modified by southeast trade winds; hot, humid
Terrain:coastal plains with interior mountains
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mont Panie 1,628 m
Natural resources: nickel, chrome, iron, cobalt, manganese, silver, gold, lead, copper
Land use: arable land: 0.32% permanent crops: 0.22% other: 99.46% (2005)
Irrigated land:100 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:cyclones, most frequent from November to March
Environment - current issues:erosion caused by mining exploitation and forest fires
Geography - note:consists of the main island of New Caledonia (one of the largest inthe Pacific Ocean), the archipelago of Iles Loyaute, and numeroussmall, sparsely populated islands and atolls
People New Caledonia
Population:219,246 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 28.4% (male 31,818/female 30,503)15-64 years: 64.9% (male 71,565/female 70,815)65 years and over: 6.6% (male 6,773/female 7,772) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 27.8 yearsmale: 27.4 yearsfemale: 28.2 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:1.24% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:18.11 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:5.69 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 populationnote: there has been steady emigration from Wallis and Futuna to NewCaledonia (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 7.57 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 8.27 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 6.83 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 74.27 yearsmale: 71.29 yearsfemale: 77.39 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.28 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: New Caledonian(s)adjective: New Caledonian
Ethnic groups:Melanesian 42.5%, European 37.1%, Wallisian 8.4%, Polynesian 3.8%,Indonesian 3.6%, Vietnamese 1.6%, other 3%
Religions:Roman Catholic 60%, Protestant 30%, other 10%
Languages:French (official), 33 Melanesian-Polynesian dialects
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 91%male: 92%female: 90% (1976 est.)
Government New Caledonia
Country name:conventional long form: Territory of New Caledonia and Dependenciesconventional short form: New Caledonialocal long form: Territoire des Nouvelle-Caledonie et Dependanceslocal short form: Nouvelle-Caledonie
Dependency status:territorial collectivity of France since 1998
Government type:NA
Capital:name: Noumeageographic coordinates: 22 16 S, 166 27 Etime difference: UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)
Administrative divisions:none (overseas territory of France); there are no first-orderadministrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but thereare 3 provinces named Province des Iles, Province Nord, and ProvinceSud
Independence:none (overseas territory of France); note - a referendum onindependence was held in 1998 but did not pass; a new referendum isscheduled for 2014
National holiday:Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
Constitution:4 October 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system:the 1988 Matignon Accords grant substantial autonomy to theislands; formerly under French law
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President of France Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May1995), represented by High Commissioner Michel MATHIEU (since 15July 2005)head of government: President of the Government Marie-NoelleTHEMEREAU (since 10 June 2004)cabinet: Consultative Committee consists of eight members chosenfrom leading figures on the island to advise the High Commissionerelections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-yearterm; high commissioner appointed by the French president on theadvice of the French Ministry of Interior; president of thegovernment elected by the members of the Territorial Congress for afive-year term (no term limits); note - last election held 29 June2004 when Marie-Noelle THEMEREAU was elected on the third vote with8 votes for and 3 abstentions
Legislative branch:unicameral Territorial Congress or Congres du territoire (54 seats;members belong to the three Provincial Assemblies or AssembleesProvinciales elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)elections: last held 9 May 2004 (next to be held NA 2009)election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -RPCR-UMP 16, AE 16, UNI-FLNKS 8, UC 7, FN 4, others 3note: New Caledonia currently holds 1 seat in the French Senate; by2010, New Caledonia will gain a second seat in the French Senate;elections last held 24 September 2001 (next to be held not laterthan September 2007); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seatsby party - UMP 1; New Caledonia also elects 2 seats to the FrenchNational Assembly; elections last held 9 and 16 June 2002 (next tobe held in June 2007); results - percent of vote by party - NA;seats by party - UMP 2
Judicial branch:Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; County Courts; Joint CommerceTribunal Court; Children's Court