Political parties and leaders:Alliance pour la Caledonie or APLC [Didier LE ROUX]; CaledonianUnion or UC; Federation des Comites de Coordination desIndependantistes or FCCI [Francois BURCK]; Front National or FN [GuyGEORGE]; Front Uni de Liberation Kanak or FULK [Ernest UNE]; KanakSocialist Front for National Liberation or FLNKS [leader NA](includes PALIKA, UNI, UC, and UPM); Parti de Liberation Kanak orPALIKA [Paul NEAOUTYINE and Elie POIGOUNE]; Rally for Caledonia inthe Republic (anti independent) or RPCR-UMP [Jacques LAFLEUR]; TheFuture Together or AE [Harold MARTIN]; Union Nationale pourl'Independance or UNI [Paul NEAOUTYINE]; note - may no longer exist,but Paul NEAOUTYINE has since become a president of Parti deLiberation Kanak or PALIKA; Union Progressiste Melanesienne or UPM[Victor TUTUGORO]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ITUC, PIF (observer), SPC, UPU, WFTU, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US:none (overseas territory of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US:none (overseas territory of France)
Flag description:the flag of France is used
Economy New Caledonia
Economy - overview:New Caledonia has about 25% of the world's known nickel resources.Only a small amount of the land is suitable for cultivation, andfood accounts for about 20% of imports. In addition to nickel,substantial financial support from France - equal to more than 15%of GDP - and tourism are keys to the health of the economy.Substantial new investment in the nickel industry, combined with therecovery of global nickel prices, brightens the economic outlook forthe next several years.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$3.158 billion (2003 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):NA
GDP - real growth rate:NA%
GDP - per capita (PPP):$15,000 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 15% industry: 8.8% services: 76.2% (2003)
Labor force: 78,990 (including 11,300 unemployed) (2004)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 20% industry: 20% services: 60% (2002)
Unemployment rate:17.1% (2004)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):-0.6% (2000 est.)
Budget:revenues: $856.3 millionexpenditures: $836.5 million (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products:vegetables; beef, deer, other livestock products; fish
Industries:nickel mining and smelting
Industrial production growth rate:-0.6% (1996)
Electricity - production:1.675 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 76.3% hydro: 23.7% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:1.558 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2004)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:10,000 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:$999 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:ferronickels, nickel ore, fish
Exports - partners:Japan 21.1%, France 17.2%, Taiwan 11.3%, South Korea 10%, Spain8.9%, China 7.2%, Belgium 4.5%, South Africa 4.4% (2005)
Imports:$1.636 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment, fuels, chemicals, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:France 39.3%, Singapore 17.5%, Australia 13.1%, NZ 5.3% (2005)
Debt - external:$79 million (1998 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$525 million annual subsidy from France (2004)
Currency (code):Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (XPF)
Currency code:XPF
Exchange rates:Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per US dollar - 95.01(2006), 95.89 (2005), 96.04 (2004), 105.66 (2003), 126.71 (2002)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications New Caledonia
Telephones - main lines in use:55,300 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:134,300 (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: NAdomestic: NAinternational: country code - 687; satellite earth station - 1Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:107,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:6 (plus 25 low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:52,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.nc
Internet hosts:13,962 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2000)
Internet users:76,000 (2005)
Transportation New Caledonia
Airports: 25 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 11 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 2 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 14 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 6 (2006)
Heliports:6 (2006)
Roadways:total: 5,432 km (2000)
Merchant marine:total: 2 ships (1000 GRT or over) 3,566 GRT/2,543 DWTby type: cargo 1, passenger/cargo 1 (2006)
Ports and terminals:Noumea
Military New Caledonia
Military branches:no regular indigenous military forces; French Armed Forces(includes Army, Navy, Air Force, Gendarmerie); Police Force
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 50,874 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 40,822 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 1,907 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:NA
Military - note:defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues New Caledonia
Disputes - international: Matthew and Hunter Islands east of New Caledonia claimed by France and Vanuatu
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007
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@New Zealand
Introduction New Zealand
Background:The Polynesian Maori reached New Zealand in about A.D. 800. In1840, their chieftains entered into a compact with Britain, theTreaty of Waitangi, in which they ceded sovereignty to QueenVictoria while retaining territorial rights. In that same year, theBritish began the first organized colonial settlement. A series ofland wars between 1843 and 1872 ended with the defeat of the nativepeoples. The British colony of New Zealand became an independentdominion in 1907 and supported the UK militarily in both World Wars.New Zealand's full participation in a number of defense allianceslapsed by the 1980s. In recent years, the government has sought toaddress longstanding Maori grievances.
Geography New Zealand
Location:Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of Australia
Geographic coordinates:41 00 S, 174 00 E
Map references:Oceania
Area:total: 268,680 sq kmland: 268,021 sq kmwater: NAnote: includes Antipodes Islands, Auckland Islands, Bounty Islands,Campbell Island, Chatham Islands, and Kermadec Islands
Area - comparative:about the size of Colorado
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:15,134 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate:temperate with sharp regional contrasts
Terrain:predominately mountainous with some large coastal plains
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 mhighest point: Aoraki-Mount Cook 3,754 m
Natural resources:natural gas, iron ore, sand, coal, timber, hydropower, gold,limestone
Land use: arable land: 5.54% permanent crops: 6.92% other: 87.54% (2005)
Irrigated land:2,850 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:earthquakes are common, though usually not severe; volcanic activity
Environment - current issues:deforestation; soil erosion; native flora and fauna hard-hit byinvasive species
Environment - international agreements:party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine LivingResources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, ClimateChange-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, MarineDumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83,Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whalingsigned, but not ratified: Antarctic Seals, Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note:about 80% of the population lives in cities; Wellington is thesouthernmost national capital in the world
People New Zealand
Population:4,076,140 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 21.1% (male 439,752/female 419,174)15-64 years: 67.1% (male 1,374,850/female 1,361,570)65 years and over: 11.8% (male 210,365/female 270,429) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 33.9 yearsmale: 33.2 yearsfemale: 34.7 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:0.99% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:13.76 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:7.53 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:3.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.04 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 5.76 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 6.59 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 4.89 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 78.81 yearsmale: 75.82 yearsfemale: 81.93 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.79 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.1% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:1,400 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 200 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: New Zealander(s)adjective: New Zealand
Ethnic groups:European 69.8%, Maori 7.9%, Asian 5.7%, Pacific islander 4.4%,other 0.5%, mixed 7.8%, unspecified 3.8% (2001 census)
Religions:Anglican 14.9%, Roman Catholic 12.4%, Presbyterian 10.9%, Methodist2.9%, Pentecostal 1.7%, Baptist 1.3%, other Christian 9.4%, other3.3%, unspecified 17.2%, none 26% (2001 census)
Languages:English (official), Maori (official), Sign Language (official)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99%male: 99%female: 99% (2003 est.)
Government New Zealand
Country name:conventional long form: noneconventional short form: New Zealandabbreviation: NZ
Government type:parliamentary democracy
Capital:name: Wellingtongeographic coordinates: 41 28 S, 174 51 Etime difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in October; endsthird Sunday in Marchnote: New Zealand is divided into two time zones, including ChathamIsland
Administrative divisions:16 regions and 1 territory*; Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Canterbury,Chatham Islands*, Gisborne, Hawke's Bay, Manawatu-Wanganui,Marlborough, Nelson, Northland, Otago, Southland, Taranaki, Tasman,Waikato, Wellington, West Coast
Dependent areas:Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau
Independence:26 September 1907 (from UK)
National holiday:Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereigntyover New Zealand), 6 February (1840); ANZAC Day (commemorated as theanniversary of the 1915 landing of troops of the Australian and NewZealand Army Corps during World War I at Gallipoli, Turkey), 25 April
Constitution:consists of a series of legal documents, including certain acts ofthe UK and New Zealand Parliaments, as well as The Constitution Act1986, which is the principal formal charter; adopted 1 January 1987,effective 1 January 1987
Legal system:based on English law, with special land legislation and land courtsfor the Maori; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),represented by Governor General Anand SATYANAND (since 23 August2006)head of government: Prime Minister Helen CLARK (since 10 December1999) and Deputy Prime Minister Michael CULLEN (since NA July 2002)cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor general on therecommendation of the prime ministerelections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor generalappointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, theleader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalitionis usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; deputyprime minister appointed by the governor general
Legislative branch:unicameral House of Representatives - commonly called Parliament(120 seats; 69 members elected by popular vote in single-memberconstituencies including seven Maori constituencies, and 51proportional seats chosen from party lists, all to serve three-yearterms)elections: last held 17 September 2005 (next to be held not laterthan 15 November 2008)election results: percent of vote by party - NZLP 41.1%, NP 39.1%,NZFP 5.72%, Green Party 5.3%, Maori 2.12%, UF 2.67%, ACT New Zealand1.51%, Progressive 1.16%; seats by party - NZLP 50, NP 48, NZFP 7,Green Party 6, Maori 4, UF 3, ACT New Zealand 2, Progressive 1note: results of 2005 election saw the total number of seatsincrease to 121 because the Maori Party won one more electorate seatthan its entitlement under the party vote
Judicial branch:Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; High Court; note - Judges appointedby the Governor-General
Political parties and leaders:ACT New Zealand [Rodney HIDE]; Green Party [Jeanette FITZSIMONS];Maori Party [Whatarangi WINIATA]; National Party or NP [John KEY];New Zealand First Party or NZFP [Winston PETERS]; New Zealand LaborParty or NZLP [Helen CLARK]; Progressive Party [James (Jim)ANDERTON]; United Future or UF [Peter DUNNE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ANZUS (US suspended security obligations to NZ on 11 August 1986),APEC, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, C,CP, EAS, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA,IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO,ITU, ITUC, NAM (guest), NSG, OECD, OPCW, PCA, PIF, Sparteca, SPC,UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIS, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO,WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Roy N. FERGUSON chancery: 37 Observatory Circle NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 328-4800 FAX: [1] (202) 667-5227 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador William P. McCORMICKembassy: 29 Fitzherbert Terrace, Thorndon, Wellingtonmailing address: P. O. Box 1190, Wellington; PSC 467, Box 1, APO AP96531-1034telephone: [64] (4) 462-6000FAX: [64] (4) 499-0490consulate(s) general: Auckland
Flag description:blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant withfour red five-pointed stars edged in white centered in the outerhalf of the flag; the stars represent the Southern Crossconstellation
Government - note:while not an official symbol, the Kiwi, a small native flightlessbird, represents New Zealand
Economy New Zealand
Economy - overview:Over the past 20 years the government has transformed New Zealandfrom an agrarian economy dependent on concessionary British marketaccess to a more industrialized, free market economy that cancompete globally. This dynamic growth has boosted real incomes (butleft behind many at the bottom of the ladder), broadened anddeepened the technological capabilities of the industrial sector,and contained inflationary pressures. Per capita income has risenfor eight consecutive years and was more than $25,500 in 2006 inpurchasing power parity terms. Consumer and government spending havedriven growth in recent years, and exports picked up in 2006 afterstruggling for several years. Exports are equal to about 28% of GDP,down from 33 percent of GDP in 2001. Thus far the economy has beenresilient, and the Labor Government promises that expenditures onhealth, education, and pensions will increase proportionately tooutput.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$106 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$98.77 billion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:1.9% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$26,000 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 4.3% industry: 26.9% services: 68.8% (2006 est.)
Labor force: 2.18 million (2006 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 10% industry: 25% services: 65% (1995)
Unemployment rate:8.3% (2006 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NAhighest 10%: NA (1991 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:36.2 (1997)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):3.8% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):22% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget:revenues: $41.51 billionexpenditures: $36.99 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA(2006 est.)
Public debt:19.9% of GDP (2006 est.)
Agriculture - products:wheat, barley, potatoes, pulses, fruits, vegetables; wool, beef,lamb and mutton, dairy products; fish
Industries:food processing, wood and paper products, textiles, machinery,transportation equipment, banking and insurance, tourism, mining
Industrial production growth rate:1.2% (2006 est.)
Electricity - production:41.1 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 31.6% hydro: 57.8% nuclear: 0% other: 10.7% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:38.22 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2004)
Oil - production:27,860 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:150,600 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports:30,220 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:119,700 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:89.62 million bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:4.35 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:4.349 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:33.36 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)
Current account balance:$-7.944 billion (2006 est.)
Exports:$23.69 billion (2006 est.)
Exports - commodities:dairy products, meat, wood and wood products, fish, machinery
Exports - partners:Australia 21.4%, US 14.1%, Japan 10.6%, China 5.1%, UK 4.7% (2005)
Imports:$25.23 billion (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment, vehicles and aircraft, petroleum,electronics, textiles, plastics
Imports - partners:Australia 20.9%, US 11%, Japan 11%, China 10.9%, Germany 4.9% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$10 billion (2006 est.)
Debt - external:$47 billion (2006 est.)
Economic aid - donor:ODA, $276 million
Currency (code):New Zealand dollar (NZD)
Currency code:NZD
Exchange rates:New Zealand dollars per US dollar - 1.55677 (2006), 1.4203 (2005),1.5087 (2004), 1.7221 (2003), 2.1622 (2002)
Fiscal year:1 July - 30 June
Communications New Zealand
Telephones - main lines in use:1,800,500 (2004)
Telephones - mobile cellular:3.53 million (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: excellent domestic and international systemsdomestic: NAinternational: country code - 64; submarine cables to Australia andFiji; 8 satellite earth stations - 1 InMarSat (Pacific Ocean), 7other
Radio broadcast stations:AM 124, FM 290, shortwave 4 (1998)
Radios:3.75 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 41 (plus 52 medium-power repeaters and over 650 low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:1.926 million (1997)
Internet country code:.nz
Internet hosts:1,050,197 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):36 (2000)
Internet users:3.2 million (2005)
Transportation New Zealand
Airports: 118 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 45 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 11 914 to 1,523 m: 27 under 914 m: 4 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 73 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 31 under 914 m: 40 (2006)
Pipelines:condensate 224 km; gas 1,693 km; liquid petroleum gas 45 km; oil280 km; refined products 288 km (2006)
Railways:total: 4,128 kmnarrow gauge: 4,128 km 1.067-m gauge (506 km electrified) (2005)
Roadways:total: 92,931 kmpaved: 59,783 km (including 171 km of expressways)unpaved: 33,148 km (2003)
Merchant marine:total: 13 ships (1000 GRT or over) 136,361 GRT/124,972 DWTby type: bulk carrier 3, cargo 1, passenger/cargo 5, petroleumtanker 2, roll on/roll off 2foreign-owned: 4 (Australia 2, Germany 1, Isle of Man 1)registered in other countries: 8 (Antigua and Barbuda 1, CookIslands 1, Dominica 4, France 1, UK 1) (2006)
Ports and terminals:Auckland, Lyttelton, Tauranga, Wellington, Whangarei
Military New Zealand
Military branches:New Zealand Defense Force (NZDF): New Zealand Army, Royal NewZealand Navy, Royal New Zealand Air Force (2006)
Military service age and obligation:17 years of age for voluntary military service; soldiers cannot bedeployed until the age of 18 (2001)
Manpower available for military service:males age 17-49: 984,700females age 17-49: 965,170 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 17-49: 809,519females age 17-49: 802,069 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 29,738females age 17-49: 28,523 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$1.147 billion (FY03/04)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1% (FY02)
Transnational Issues New Zealand
Disputes - international: asserts a territorial claim in Antarctica (Ross Dependency) [see Antarctica]
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007
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@Nicaragua
Introduction Nicaragua
Background:The Pacific coast of Nicaragua was settled as a Spanish colony fromPanama in the early 16th century. Independence from Spain wasdeclared in 1821 and the country became an independent republic in1838. Britain occupied the Caribbean Coast in the first half of the19th century, but gradually ceded control of the region insubsequent decades. Violent opposition to governmental manipulationand corruption spread to all classes by 1978 and resulted in ashort-lived civil war that brought the Marxist Sandinista guerrillasto power in 1979. Nicaraguan aid to leftist rebels in El Salvadorcaused the US to sponsor anti-Sandinista contra guerrillas throughmuch of the 1980s. Free elections in 1990, 1996, and 2001, saw theSandinistas defeated, but voting in 2006 announced the return offormer Sandinista President Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra. Nicaragua'sinfrastructure and economy - hard hit by the earlier civil war andby Hurricane Mitch in 1998 - are slowly being rebuilt.
Geography Nicaragua
Location:Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the NorthPacific Ocean, between Costa Rica and Honduras
Geographic coordinates:13 00 N, 85 00 W
Map references:Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total: 129,494 sq kmland: 120,254 sq kmwater: 9,240 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than the state of New York
Land boundaries: total: 1,231 km border countries: Costa Rica 309 km, Honduras 922 km
Coastline: 910 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: natural prolongation
Climate:tropical in lowlands, cooler in highlands
Terrain:extensive Atlantic coastal plains rising to central interiormountains; narrow Pacific coastal plain interrupted by volcanoes
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 mhighest point: Mogoton 2,438 m
Natural resources:gold, silver, copper, tungsten, lead, zinc, timber, fish
Land use: arable land: 14.81% permanent crops: 1.82% other: 83.37% (2005)
Irrigated land:610 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:destructive earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides; extremelysusceptible to hurricanes
Environment - current issues:deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Lawof the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whalingsigned, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
Geography - note:largest country in Central America; contains the largest freshwaterbody in Central America, Lago de Nicaragua
People Nicaragua
Population:5,570,129 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 36.4% (male 1,031,897/female 994,633)15-64 years: 60.5% (male 1,677,633/female 1,691,353)65 years and over: 3.1% (male 76,758/female 97,855) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 20.9 yearsmale: 20.5 yearsfemale: 21.4 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:1.89% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:24.51 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:4.45 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:-1.17 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: 0.99 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 28.11 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 31.51 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 24.54 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 70.63 yearsmale: 68.55 yearsfemale: 72.81 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.75 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.2% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:6,400 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 500 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Nicaraguan(s)adjective: Nicaraguan
Ethnic groups:mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 69%, white 17%, black 9%,Amerindian 5%
Religions:Roman Catholic 72.9%, Evangelical 15.1%, Moravian 1.5%, Episcopal0.1%, other 1.9%, none 8.5% (1995 census)
Languages:Spanish 97.5% (official), Miskito 1.7%, other 0.8% (1995 census)note: English and indigenous languages on Atlantic coast
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 67.5%male: 67.2%female: 67.8% (2003 est.)
Government Nicaragua
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Nicaraguaconventional short form: Nicaragualocal long form: Republica de Nicaragualocal short form: Nicaragua
Government type:republic
Capital:name: Managuageographic coordinates: 12 09 N, 86 17 Wtime difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during StandardTime)
Administrative divisions:15 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) and 2autonomous regions* (regiones autonomistas, singular - regionautonomista); Atlantico Norte*, Atlantico Sur*, Boaco, Carazo,Chinandega, Chontales, Esteli, Granada, Jinotega, Leon, Madriz,Managua, Masaya, Matagalpa, Nueva Segovia, Rio San Juan, Rivas
Independence:15 September 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday:Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Constitution:9 January 1987; reforms in 1995 and 2000
Legal system:civil law system; Supreme Court may review administrative acts;accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:16 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (since 15 January2007); Vice President Jaime MORALES Carazo (since 10 January 2007);note - the president is both chief of state and head of governmenthead of government: President Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (since 15January 2007); Vice President Jaime MORALES Carazo (since 10 January2007)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the presidentelections: president and vice president elected on the same ticketby popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term solong as it is not consecutive); election last held 5 November 2006(next to be held by November 2011)election results: Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (FSLN) elected president -38.07%, Eduardo MONTEALEGRE (ALN) 29%, Jose RIZO (PLC) 26.21%,Edmundo JARQUIN (MRS) 6.44%
Legislative branch:unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (92 seats;members are elected by proportional representation and party liststo serve five-year terms; 1 seat for the previous president, 1 seatfor the runner-up in previous presidential election)elections: last held 5 November 2006 (next to be held by November2011)election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -FSLN 38, PLC 25, ALN 23 (22 plus one for presidential candidateEduardo MONTEALEGRE, runner-up in the 2006 presidential election),MRS 5, APRE 1 (outgoing President Enrique BOLANOS)
Judicial branch:Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (16 judges elected for five-yearterms by the National Assembly)
Political parties and leaders:Alliance for the Republic or APRE [Miguel LOPEZ Baldizon]; CentralAmerican Unionist Party or PUCA [Blanca ROJAS]; ChristianAlternative Party or AC [Orlando TARDENCILLA Espinoza]; ConservativeParty or PC [Azalia AVILES Salmeron]; Independent Liberal Party orPLI [Anibal MARTINEZ Nunez, Pedro REYES Vallejos]; IndependentLiberal Party for National Unity or PLIUN [Carlos GUERRA Gallardo];Liberal Constitutional Party or PLC [Jorge CASTILLO Quant]; LiberalSalvation Movement or MSL [Eliseo NUNEZ Hernandez]; New LiberalParty or PALI [Adolfo GARCIA Esquivel]; Nicaraguan Liberal Allianceor ALN [Eduardo MONTEALEGRE]; Nicaraguan Party of the Christian Pathor PCCN [Guillermo OSORNO Molina]; Nicaraguan Resistance Party orPRN [Salvador TALAVERA]; Sandinista National Liberation Front orFSLN [Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra]; Sandinista Renovation Movement or MRS[Dora Maria TELLEZ]; Unity Alliance or AU
Political pressure groups and leaders:National Workers Front or FNT is a Sandinista umbrella group ofeight labor unions including - Farm Workers Association or ATC,Health Workers Federation or FETASALUD, Heroes and MartyrsConfederation of Professional Associations or CONAPRO, NationalAssociation of Educators of Nicaragua or ANDEN, National Union ofEmployees or UNE, National Union of Farmers and Ranchers or UNAG,Sandinista Workers Central or CST, and Union of Journalists ofNicaragua or UPN; Permanent Congress of Workers or CPT is anumbrella group of four non-Sandinista labor unions including -Autonomous Nicaraguan Workers Central or CTN-A, Confederation ofLabor Unification or CUS, Independent General Confederation of Laboror CGT-I, and Labor Action and Unity Central or CAUS; NicaraguanWorkers' Central or CTN is an independent labor union; SuperiorCouncil of Private Enterprise or COSEP is a confederation ofbusiness groups
International organization participation:BCIE, CACM, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO(correspondent), ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, NAM, OAS,OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU,WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: vacant chancery: 1627 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 939-6570, [1] (202) 939-6573 FAX: [1] (202) 939-6545 consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Paul A. TRIVELLI embassy: Kilometer 4.5 Carretera Sur, Managua mailing address: P.O. Box 327 telephone: [505] 266-6010 FAX: [505] 266-3861
Flag description:three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue withthe national coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat ofarms features a triangle encircled by the words REPUBLICA DENICARAGUA on the top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom; similar tothe flag of El Salvador, which features a round emblem encircled bythe words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL centered inthe white band; also similar to the flag of Honduras, which has fiveblue stars arranged in an X pattern centered in the white band
Economy Nicaragua
Economy - overview:Nicaragua, the second poorest country in the Western Hemisphere,has low per capita income and widespread underemployment.Distribution of income is one of the most unequal on the globe.While the country has progressed toward macroeconomic stability inthe past few years, GDP annual growth has been far too low to meetthe country's needs, forcing the country to rely on internationaleconomic assistance to meet fiscal and debt financing obligations.Nicaragua qualified in early 2004 for some $4.5 billion in foreigndebt reduction under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC)initiative and in November 2006 obtained over $800 million in debtrelief from the Inter-American Development Bank. In October 2005,Nicaragua ratified the US-Central America Free Trade Agreement(CAFTA), which will provide an opportunity for Nicaragua to attractinvestment, create jobs, and deepen economic development. Energyshortages, however, are a serious bottleneck to growth.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$16.83 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$4.816 billion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:2.5% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$3,000 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 17.3% industry: 25.8% services: 56.8% (2006 est.)
Labor force: 2.261 million (2006 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 30.5% industry: 17.3% services: 52.2% (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate:3.8% plus underemployment of 46.5% (2006 est.)
Population below poverty line:50% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.2% highest 10%: 45% (2001)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:55.1 (2001)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):9.4% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):29.8% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget:revenues: $945.3 millionexpenditures: $1.254 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA(2006 est.)
Public debt:82.7% of GDP (2006 est.)
Agriculture - products:coffee, bananas, sugarcane, cotton, rice, corn, tobacco, sesame,soya, beans; beef, veal, pork, poultry, dairy products; shrimp,lobsters
Industries:food processing, chemicals, machinery and metal products, textiles,clothing, petroleum refining and distribution, beverages, footwear,wood
Industrial production growth rate:2.4% (2005 est.)
Electricity - production:2.766 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 83.9% hydro: 7.7% nuclear: 0% other: 8.4% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:2.573 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:22 million kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:23 million kWh (2004)
Oil - production:14,300 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption:25,200 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - exports:758.9 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - imports:15,560 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Current account balance:$-883 million (2006 est.)
Exports:$1.714 billion f.o.b.; note - includes free trade zones (2006 est.)
Exports - commodities:coffee, beef, shrimp and lobster, tobacco, sugar, gold, peanuts
Exports - partners:US 34.1%, El Salvador 14.3%, Honduras 7.9%, Costa Rica 6.1%,Guatemala 5.2%, Mexico 5.1%, Spain 4.2% (2005)
Imports:$3.202 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities:consumer goods, machinery and equipment, raw materials, petroleumproducts
Imports - partners:US 20.1%, Venezuela 11.9%, Costa Rica 8.9%, Mexico 8.3%, Guatemala7%, El Salvador 5.1%, Japan 4.5%, Ecuador 4.2% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$723 million (2006 est.)
Debt - external:$3.763 billion (2006 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$419.5 million (2005 est.)
Currency (code):gold cordoba (NIO)
Currency code:NIO
Exchange rates:gold cordobas per US dollar - 17.5815 (2006), 16.733 (2005), 15.937(2004), 15.105 (2003), 14.251 (2002)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Nicaragua
Telephones - main lines in use:220,900 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:1.119 million (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: inadequate system being upgraded by foreigninvestmentdomestic: low-capacity microwave radio relay and wire system beingexpanded; connected to Central American Microwave Systeminternational: country code - 505; satellite earth stations - 1Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region) and 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 63, FM 32, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:1.24 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:3 (plus seven low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:320,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.ni
Internet hosts:24,452 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):3 (2000)
Internet users:140,000 (2005)
Transportation Nicaragua
Airports: 176 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 11 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 3 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 165 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 23 under 914 m: 141 (2006)
Pipelines: oil 54 km (2006)
Railways: total: 6 km narrow gauge: 6 km 1.067-m gauge (2005)
Roadways: total: 19,036 km paved: 2,299 km unpaved: 16,737 km (2005)
Waterways:2,220 km (including lakes Managua and Nicaragua) (2005)
Ports and terminals:Bluefields, Corinto, El Bluff
Military Nicaragua
Military branches:Army (includes Navy, Air Force)
Military service age and obligation:17 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)
Manpower available for military service:males age 17-49: 1,309,970females age 17-49: 1,315,186 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 17-49: 1,051,425females age 17-49: 1,129,649 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 65,170females age 17-49: 63,133 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$32.27 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:0.7% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Nicaragua
Disputes - international:Memorials and countermemorials were filed by the parties inNicaragua's 1999 and 2001 proceedings against Honduras and Colombiaat the ICJ over the maritime boundary and territorial claims in thewestern Caribbean Sea, final public hearings are scheduled for 2007;the 1992 ICJ ruling for El Salvador and Honduras advised atripartite resolution to establish a maritime boundary in the Gulfof Fonseca, which considers Honduran access to the Pacific; legaldispute over navigational rights of San Juan River on border withCosta Rica
Illicit drugs:transshipment point for cocaine destined for the US andtransshipment point for arms-for-drugs dealing
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007
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@Niger
Introduction Niger
Background:Niger became independent from France in 1960 and experiencedsingle-party and military rule until 1991, when Gen. Ali SAIBOU wasforced by public pressure to allow multiparty elections, whichresulted in a democratic government in 1993. Political infightingbrought the government to a standstill and in 1996 led to a coup byCol. Ibrahim BARE. In 1999 BARE was killed in a coup by militaryofficers who promptly restored democratic rule and held electionsthat brought Mamadou TANDJA to power in December of that year.TANDJA was reelected in 2004. Niger is one of the poorest countriesin the world with minimal government services and insufficient fundsto develop its resource base. The largely agrarian andsubsistence-based economy is frequently disrupted by extendeddroughts common to the Sahel region of Africa.
Geography Niger
Location:Western Africa, southeast of Algeria
Geographic coordinates:16 00 N, 8 00 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 1.267 million sq kmland: 1,266,700 sq kmwater: 300 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Land boundaries:total: 5,697 kmborder countries: Algeria 956 km, Benin 266 km, Burkina Faso 628 km,Chad 1,175 km, Libya 354 km, Mali 821 km, Nigeria 1,497 km
Coastline:0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:none (landlocked)
Climate:desert; mostly hot, dry, dusty; tropical in extreme south
Terrain:predominately desert plains and sand dunes; flat to rolling plainsin south; hills in north
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Niger River 200 mhighest point: Mont Bagzane 2,022 m
Natural resources:uranium, coal, iron ore, tin, phosphates, gold, molybdenum, gypsum,salt, petroleum
Land use: arable land: 11.43% permanent crops: 0.01% other: 88.56% (2005)
Irrigated land:730 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:recurring droughts
Environment - current issues: overgrazing; soil erosion; deforestation; desertification; wildlife populations (such as elephant, hippopotamus, giraffe, and lion) threatened because of poaching and habitat destruction
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:landlocked; one of the hottest countries in the world; northernfour-fifths is desert, southern one-fifth is savanna, suitable forlivestock and limited agriculture
People Niger
Population:12,525,094 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 46.9% (male 2,994,022/female 2,882,273)15-64 years: 50.7% (male 3,262,114/female 3,083,522)65 years and over: 2.4% (male 150,982/female 152,181) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 16.5 yearsmale: 16.5 yearsfemale: 16.4 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:2.92% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:50.73 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:20.91 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:-0.61 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.99 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 118.25 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 122.29 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 114.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 43.76 yearsmale: 43.8 yearsfemale: 43.73 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:7.46 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:1.2% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:70,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:4,800 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne disease: malaria is a high risk in some locations respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified among birds in this country or surrounding region; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2007)
Nationality: noun: Nigerien(s) adjective: Nigerien
Ethnic groups:Hausa 56%, Djerma 22%, Fula 8.5%, Tuareg 8%, Beri Beri (Kanouri)4.3%, Arab, Toubou, and Gourmantche 1.2%, about 1,200 Frenchexpatriates
Religions:Muslim 80%, remainder indigenous beliefs and Christian
Languages:French (official), Hausa, Djerma
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 17.6%male: 25.8%female: 9.7% (2003 est.)
Government Niger
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Nigerconventional short form: Nigerlocal long form: Republique du Nigerlocal short form: Niger
Government type:republic
Capital:name: Niameygeographic coordinates: 13 31 N, 2 07 Etime difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)
Administrative divisions:8 regions (regions, singular - region) includes 1 capital district*(communite urbaine); Agadez, Diffa, Dosso, Maradi, Niamey*, Tahoua,Tillaberi, Zinder
Independence:3 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday:Republic Day, 18 December (1958)
Constitution:new constitution adopted 18 July 1999
Legal system:based on French civil law system and customary law; has notaccepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Mamadou TANDJA (since 22 December 1999);note - the president is both chief of state and head of governmenthead of government: President Mamadou TANDJA (since 22 December1999); Prime Minister Hama AMADOU (since 31 December 1999) wasappointed by the president and shares some executiveresponsibilities with the presidentcabinet: 26-member Cabinet appointed by the presidentelections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term(eligible for a second term); second round last held 4 December 2004(next to be held December 2009)election results: Mamadou TANDJA reelected president; percent ofvote - Mamadou TANDJA 65.5%, Mahamadou ISSOUFOU 34.5%
Legislative branch:unicameral National Assembly (113 seats; note - expanded from 83seats; members elected by popular vote for five-year terms)elections: last held 4 December 2004 (next to be held December 2009)election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -MNSD 47, CDS 22, PNDS 25, RSD 7, RDP 6, ANDP 5, PSDN 1
Judicial branch:State Court or Cour d'Etat; Court of Appeals or Cour d'Appel
Political parties and leaders:Democratic and Social Convention-Rahama or CDS-Rahama [MahamaneOUSMANE]; National Movement for a Developing Society-Nassara orMNSD-Nassara [Hama AMADOU]; Niger Social Democratic Party or PSDN;Nigerien Alliance for Democracy and Social Progress-Zaman Lahiya orANDP-Zaman Lahiya [Moumouni DJERMAKOYE]; Nigerien Party for Autonomyor PNA-Alouma'a [Sanousi JACKOU]; Nigerien Party for Democracy andSocialism or PNDS-Tarrayya [Issifou MAHAMADOU]; Nigerien ProgressiveParty or PPN-RDA [Abdoulaye DIORI]; Rally for Democracy and Progressor RDP-jama'a [Hamid ALGABID]; Social and Democratic Rally orRSD-Gaskiyya [Cheiffou AMADOU]