Economy Panama
Economy - overview:Panama's dollarised economy rests primarily on a well-developedservices sector that accounts for three-fourths of GDP. Servicesinclude operating the Panama Canal, banking, the Colon Free Zone,insurance, container ports, flagship registry, and tourism. A slumpin the Colon Free Zone and agricultural exports, the globalslowdown, and the withdrawal of US military forces held backeconomic growth in 2000-03; growth picked up in 2004-06 led byexport-oriented services and a construction boom stimulated by taxincentives. The government has implemented tax reforms, as well associal security reforms, and backs regional trade agreements anddevelopment of tourism. Unemployment remains high. In October 2006,voters passed a referendum to expand the Panama Canal to accommodateships that are now too large to cross the transoceanic crossway. Nota CAFTA signatory, Panama in December 2006 independently negotiateda free trade agreement with the United States, which, whenimplemented, will help promote the country's economic growth.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$25.29 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$16.2 billion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:6.3% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$7,900 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 7.2%industry: 16.4%services: 76.4% (2006 est.)
Labor force:1.441 millionnote: shortage of skilled labor, but an oversupply of unskilledlabor (2006 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture: 20.8%industry: 18%services: 61.2% (1995 est.)
Unemployment rate:8.8% (2006 est.)
Population below poverty line:37% (1999 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.2% highest 10%: 35.7% (1997)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:56.4 (2000)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):2.6% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):17.5% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget:revenues: $4.157 billionexpenditures: $4.489 billion; including capital expenditures of $471million (2006 est.)
Public debt:61.3% of GDP (2006 est.)
Agriculture - products:bananas, rice, corn, coffee, sugarcane, vegetables; livestock;shrimp
Industries:construction, brewing, cement and other construction materials,sugar milling
Industrial production growth rate:3% (2006 est.)
Electricity - production:7.545 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 37% hydro: 61.3% nuclear: 0% other: 1.7% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:6.888 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:207 million kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:78 million kWh (2004)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:79,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports:NA bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:NA bbl/day; note - imports oil (2001)
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Current account balance:$-467 million (2006 est.)
Exports:$8.087 billion f.o.b.; note - includes the Colon Free Zone (2006est.)
Exports - commodities:bananas, shrimp, sugar, coffee, clothing
Exports - partners:US 44.9%, Spain 8.9%, Sweden 5.6%, Netherlands 4.9%, Costa Rica 4%(2005)
Imports:$9.365 billion f.o.b. (includes the Colon Free Zone) (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities:capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods, chemicals
Imports - partners:US 27.5%, Netherlands Antilles 11.4%, Costa Rica 4.7%, Japan 4.5%(2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$1.236 billion (2006 est.)
Debt - external:$9.993 billion (2006 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$197.1 million (1995)
Currency (code):balboa (PAB); US dollar (USD)
Currency code:PAB; USD
Exchange rates:balboas per US dollar - 1 (2006), 1 (2005), 1 (2004), 1 (2003), 1(2002)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Panama
Telephones - main lines in use:440,100 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:1.352 million (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: domestic and international facilities welldevelopeddomestic: NAinternational: country code - 507; 1 coaxial submarine cable;satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); connected tothe Central American Microwave System
Radio broadcast stations:AM 101, FM 134, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:815,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:38 (including repeaters) (1998)
Televisions:510,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.pa
Internet hosts:7,149 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):6 (2000)
Internet users:300,000 (2005)
Transportation Panama
Airports: 117 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 53 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 18 under 914 m: 28 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 64 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 53 (2006)
Railways:total: 355 kmstandard gauge: 77 km 1.435-m gaugenarrow gauge: 278 km 0.914-m gauge (2005)
Roadways:total: 11,643 kmpaved: 4,028 kmunpaved: 7,615 km (2000)
Waterways:800 km (includes 82 km Panama Canal) (2005)
Merchant marine:total: 5,473 ships (1000 GRT or over) 146,511,342 GRT/219,940,567DWTby type: barge carrier 1, bulk carrier 1,776, cargo 992, chemicaltanker 476, combination ore/oil 2, container 663, liquefied gas 193,livestock carrier 7, passenger 49, passenger/cargo 77, petroleumtanker 518, refrigerated cargo 299, roll on/roll off 123,specialized tanker 23, vehicle carrier 274foreign-owned: 4,922 (Anguilla 1, Argentina 9, Australia 3, Bahamas,The 2, Belgium 11, Bermuda 1, Bulgaria 1, Canada 4, Chile 9, China420, Colombia 5, Croatia 5, Cuba 11, Cyprus 14, Denmark 34, Egypt16, Estonia 3, France 15, Gabon 1, Germany 35, Greece 524, Hong Kong169, India 19, Indonesia 50, Iran 4, Ireland 2, Israel 6, Italy 15,Japan 2007, Jordan 13, South Korea ( ( (291, Kuwait 2, Latvia 3,Lebanon 2, Lithuania 5, Malaysia 13, Maldives 1, Malta 3, Mexico 5,Monaco 9, Morocco 1, Netherlands 21, Nigeria 7, Norway 66, Pakistan3, Peru 15, Philippines 13, Poland 15, Portugal 10, Qatar 1, Romania9, Russia 7, Saudi Arabia 8, Singapore 67, South Africa 3, Spain 53,Sri Lanka 5, Sudan 1, Sweden 5, Switzerland 226, Syria 18, Taiwan308, Thailand 9, Trinidad and Tobago 1, Turkey 42, UAE 105, UK 37,Ukraine 8, US 94, Venezuela 14, Vietnam 4, Yemen 3)registered in other countries: 1 (Venezuela 1) (2006)
Ports and terminals:Balboa, Colon, Cristobal
Military Panama
Military branches:an amendment to the Constitution abolished the armed forces, butthere are security forces (Panamanian Public Forces or PPF includesthe Panamanian National Police, National Maritime Service, andNational Air Service)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 751,065 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 591,604 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 29,724
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$150 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1% (2005 est.)
Military - note:on 10 February 1990, the government of then President ENDARAabolished Panama's military and reformed the security apparatus bycreating the Panamanian Public Forces; in October 1994, Panama'sLegislative Assembly approved a constitutional amendment prohibitingthe creation of a standing military force, but allowing thetemporary establishment of special police units to counter acts of"external aggression"
Transnational Issues Panama
Disputes - international: organized illegal narcotics operations in Colombia operate within the remote border region with Panama
Illicit drugs:major cocaine transshipment point and primary money-launderingcenter for narcotics revenue; money-laundering activity isespecially heavy in the Colon Free Zone; offshore financial center;negligible signs of coca cultivation; monitoring of financialtransactions is improving; official corruption remains a majorproblem
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007
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@Papua New Guinea
Introduction Papua New Guinea
Background:The eastern half of the island of New Guinea - second largest inthe world - was divided between Germany (north) and the UK (south)in 1885. The latter area was transferred to Australia in 1902, whichoccupied the northern portion during World War I and continued toadminister the combined areas until independence in 1975. Anine-year secessionist revolt on the island of Bougainville ended in1997 after claiming some 20,000 lives.
Geography Papua New Guinea
Location:Oceania, group of islands including the eastern half of the islandof New Guinea between the Coral Sea and the South Pacific Ocean,east of Indonesia
Geographic coordinates:6 00 S, 147 00 E
Map references:Oceania
Area:total: 462,840 sq kmland: 452,860 sq kmwater: 9,980 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly larger than California
Land boundaries: total: 820 km border countries: Indonesia 820 km
Coastline:5,152 km
Maritime claims:measured from claimed archipelagic baselinesterritorial sea: 12 nmcontinental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitationexclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical; northwest monsoon (December to March), southeast monsoon(May to October); slight seasonal temperature variation
Terrain:mostly mountains with coastal lowlands and rolling foothills
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Wilhelm 4,509 m
Natural resources: gold, copper, silver, natural gas, timber, oil, fisheries
Land use: arable land: 0.49% permanent crops: 1.4% other: 98.11% (2005)
Irrigated land:NA
Natural hazards:active volcanism; situated along the Pacific "Ring of Fire"; thecountry is subject to frequent and sometimes severe earthquakes; mudslides; tsunamis
Environment - current issues:rain forest subject to deforestation as a result of growingcommercial demand for tropical timber; pollution from miningprojects; severe drought
Environment - international agreements:party to: 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, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:shares island of New Guinea with Indonesia; one of world's largestswamps along southwest coast
People Papua New Guinea
Population:5,670,544 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 37.8% (male 1,090,879/female 1,054,743)15-64 years: 58.3% (male 1,703,204/female 1,601,224)65 years and over: 3.9% (male 103,054/female 117,440) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 21.2 yearsmale: 21.4 yearsfemale: 21.1 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:2.21% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:29.36 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:7.25 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 49.96 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 54.08 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 45.63 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 65.28 yearsmale: 63.08 yearsfemale: 67.58 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:3.88 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.6% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:16,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:600 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria are high risks in some locations (2007)
Nationality: noun: Papua New Guinean(s) adjective: Papua New Guinean
Ethnic groups:Melanesian, Papuan, Negrito, Micronesian, Polynesian
Religions:Roman Catholic 22%, Lutheran 16%, Presbyterian/Methodist/LondonMissionary Society 8%, Anglican 5%, Evangelical Alliance 4%,Seventh-Day Adventist 1%, other Protestant 10%, indigenous beliefs34%
Languages:Melanesian Pidgin serves as the lingua franca, English spoken by1%-2%, Motu spoken in Papua regionnote: 820 indigenous languages spoken (over one-tenth of the world'stotal)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 64.6%male: 71.1%female: 57.7% (2002)
Government Papua New Guinea
Country name:conventional long form: Independent State of Papua New Guineaconventional short form: Papua New Guinealocal short form: Papuaniuginiformer: Territory of Papua and New Guineaabbreviation: PNG
Government type:constitutional parliamentary democracy
Capital:name: Port Moresbygeographic coordinates: 9 30 S, 147 10 Etime difference: UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)
Administrative divisions:20 provinces; Bougainville, Central, Chimbu, Eastern Highlands,East New Britain, East Sepik, Enga, Gulf, Madang, Manus, Milne Bay,Morobe, National Capital, New Ireland, Northern, Sandaun, SouthernHighlands, Western, Western Highlands, West New Britain
Independence:16 September 1975 (from the Australian-administered UN trusteeship)
National holiday:Independence Day, 16 September (1975)
Constitution:16 September 1975
Legal system:based on English common law
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),represented by governor general Sir Paulius MATANE (since 29 June2004)head of government: Prime Minister Sir Michael SOMARE (since 2August 2002); deputy prime minister Don Polye (since 5 July 2006)cabinet: National Executive Council appointed by the governorgeneral on the recommendation of the prime ministerelections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor generalappointed by the National Executive Council; following legislativeelections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of themajority coalition usually is appointed prime minister by thegovernor general
Legislative branch:unicameral National Parliament - sometimes referred to as the Houseof Assembly (109 seats, 89 elected from open electorates and 20 fromprovincial electorates; members elected by popular vote to servefive-year terms)elections: last held 15-29 June 2002 and April and May 2003;completed in May 2003 (voting in the Southern Highlands was notcompleted during the June 2002 election period); next to be held notlater than June 2007election results: percent of vote by party - National Alliance 18%,URP 13%, PDM 12%, PPP 8%, Pangu 6%, PAP 5%, PLP 4%, others 34%;seats by party - National Alliance 19, URP 14, PDM 13, PPP 8, PANGU6, PAP 5, PLP 4, others 40; note - seats by party as of January 2006- National Alliance 25, URP 10, PNGP 9, PPP 9, PANGU 6, PAP 12, PLP4, others 34note: association with political parties is fluid
Judicial branch:Supreme Court (the chief justice is appointed by the governorgeneral on the proposal of the National Executive Council afterconsultation with the minister responsible for justice; other judgesare appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission)
Political parties and leaders:Christian Democratic Party [Dr. Banare BUN]; Melanesian AllianceParty or MAP [Sir Moi AVEL]; National Alliance Party or NA [MichaelSOMARE]; National Party; Papua and Niugini Union Party or PANGU[Rabbie NAMALIU]; Papua New Guinea First Party [Cecilking DORUBA];Papua New Guinea Labor Party [Bob DANAYA]; Papua New Guinea Party orPNGP (was People's Democratic Movement or PDM) [Sir Mekere MORAUTA];People's Action Party or PAP [Moses MALADINA]; People's Labor Partyor PLP [Ekis ROPENU]; People's National Congress or PNC [PeterO'NEILL]; People's Progress Party or PPP [Byron CHAN]; Pipol FirstParty [Luther WENGE]; United Party [Bire KIMASOPA]; United ResourcesParty or URP [Tim NEVILLE] (2007)
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACP, APEC, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN (observer), C, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD,ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW,PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO,WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Evan Jeremy PAKIchancery: 1779 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Suite 805, Washington, DC20036telephone: [1] (202) 745-3680FAX: [1] (202) 745-3679
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Leslie V. ROWE embassy: Douglas Street, Port Moresby mailing address: 4240 Port Moresby PI, US Department of State, Washington DC 20521-4240 telephone: [675] 321-1455 FAX: [675] 321-3423
Flag description:divided diagonally from upper hoist-side corner; the upper triangleis red with a soaring yellow bird of paradise centered; the lowertriangle is black with five, white, five-pointed stars of theSouthern Cross constellation centered
Economy Papua New Guinea
Economy - overview:Papua New Guinea is richly endowed with natural resources, butexploitation has been hampered by rugged terrain and the high costof developing infrastructure. Agriculture provides a subsistencelivelihood for 85% of the population. Mineral deposits, includingoil, copper, and gold, account for nearly two-thirds of exportearnings. The economy has improved over the past three years becauseof high commodity prices following a prolonged period ofinstability. The government of Prime Minister SOMARE has expendedmuch of its energy remaining in power and should be the firstgovernment in decades to serve a full five-year term. The governmenthas also brought stability to the national budget thus far, largelythrough expenditure control. Numerous challenges still face thegovernment including regaining investor confidence, restoringintegrity to state institutions, promoting economic efficiency byprivatizing moribund state institutions, and balancing relationswith Australia, the former colonial ruler. Other socio-culturalchallenges could upend the economy including a worsening HIV/Aidsepidemic and chronic law and order and land tenure issues. Australiaannually supplies $240 million in aid, which accounts for nearly 20%of the national budget.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$15.13 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$4.148 billion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:3.2% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$2,700 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 35.7% industry: 37.1% services: 27.2% (2006 est.)
Labor force: 3.477 million (2006 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 85% industry: NA% services: NA%
Unemployment rate:2% up to 80% in urban areas (2004)
Population below poverty line:37% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.7% highest 10%: 40.5% (1996)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:50.9 (1996)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):2.5% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):19.2% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget:revenues: $2.155 billionexpenditures: $2.166 billion; including capital expenditures of $344million (2006 est.)
Public debt:53.7% of GDP (2006 est.)
Agriculture - products:coffee, cocoa, copra, palm kernels, tea, sugar, rubber, sweetpotatoes, fruit, vegetables, vanilla; shell fish, poultry, pork
Industries:copra crushing, palm oil processing, plywood production, wood chipproduction; mining of gold, silver, and copper; crude oilproduction, petroleum refining; construction, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:NA%
Electricity - production:3.358 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 54.1% hydro: 45.9% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:3.123 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2004)
Oil - production:50,000 bbl/day (January 2006 est.)
Oil - consumption:18,000 bbl/day (January 2006 est.)
Oil - exports:NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:NA bbl/day
Oil - proved reserves:170 million bbl (2006 est.)
Natural gas - production:140 million cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:140 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:345.5 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)
Current account balance:$661 million (2006 est.)
Exports:$4.096 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Exports - commodities:oil, gold, copper ore, logs, palm oil, coffee, cocoa, crayfish,prawns
Exports - partners:Australia 28.8%, Japan 8.6%, China 5.4% (2005)
Imports:$1.686 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, fuels,chemicals
Imports - partners:Australia 54.7%, Singapore 13.4%, Japan 4.3%, Malaysia 4.2% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$1.099 billion (2006 est.)
Debt - external:$1.801 billion (2006 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$NA
Currency (code):kina (PGK)
Currency code:PGK
Exchange rates:kina per US dollar - 3.08 (2006), 3.08 (2005), 3.2225 (2004),3.5635 (2003), 3.8952 (2002)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Papua New Guinea
Telephones - main lines in use:62,000 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:26,000 (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: services are adequate; facilities provideradiotelephone and telegraph, coastal radio, aeronautical radio, andinternational radio communication servicesdomestic: mostly radiotelephoneinternational: country code - 675; submarine cables to Australia andGuam; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean);international radio communication service
Radio broadcast stations:AM 8, FM 19, shortwave 28 (1998)
Radios:410,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 3 (all in the Port Moresby area) note: additional stations at Mt. Hagen, Goroka, Lae, and Rabaul are planned (2004)
Televisions:59,841 (1999)
Internet country code:.pg
Internet hosts:1,573 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):3 (2000)
Internet users:170,000 (2005)
Transportation Papua New Guinea
Airports: 582 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 21 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 14 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 561 1,524 to 2,437 m: 11 914 to 1,523 m: 62 under 914 m: 488 (2006)
Heliports:2 (2006)
Pipelines:oil 264 km (2006)
Roadways: total: 19,600 km paved: 686 km unpaved: 18,914 km (1999)
Waterways:10,940 km (2003)
Merchant marine:total: 24 ships (1000 GRT or over) 55,532 GRT/72,240 DWTby type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 18, passenger/cargo 2, petroleumtanker 1, roll on/roll off 1foreign-owned: 6 (UK 6) (2006)
Ports and terminals:Kimbe, Lae, Rabaul
Military Papua New Guinea
Military branches:Papua New Guinea Defense Force (includes Maritime OperationsElement, Air Operations Element)
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2001)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 1,264,728females age 18-49: 1,167,188 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 902,432females age 18-49: 894,759 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$16.9 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.4% (FY02)
Transnational Issues Papua New Guinea
Disputes - international:relies on assistance from Australia to keep out illegalcross-border activities from primarily Indonesia, including goodssmuggling, illegal narcotics trafficking, and squatters andsecessionists
Refugees and internally displaced persons:refugees (country of origin): 9,991 (Indonesia) (2006)
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007
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@Paracel Islands
Background:The Paracel Islands are surrounded by productive fishing groundsand by potential oil and gas reserves. In 1932, French Indochinaannexed the islands and set up a weather station on Pattle Island;maintenance was continued by its successor, Vietnam. China hasoccupied the Paracel Islands since 1974, when its troops seized aSouth Vietnamese garrison occupying the western islands. The islandsare claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam.
Geography Paracel Islands
Location:Southeastern Asia, group of small islands and reefs in the SouthChina Sea, about one-third of the way from central Vietnam to thenorthern Philippines
Geographic coordinates:16 30 N, 112 00 E
Map references:Southeast Asia
Area:total: NA sq kmland: NA sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:NA
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:518 km
Maritime claims:NA
Climate:tropical
Terrain:mostly low and flat
Elevation extremes: lowest point: South China Sea 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Rocky Island 14 m
Natural resources: none
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2005)
Irrigated land:0 sq km
Natural hazards:typhoons
Environment - current issues:NA
Geography - note:composed of 130 small coral islands and reefs divided into thenortheast Amphitrite Group and the western Crescent Group
People Paracel Islands
Population: no indigenous inhabitants note: there are scattered Chinese garrisons
Government Paracel Islands
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Paracel Islands
Economy Paracel Islands
Economy - overview:China announced plans in 1997 to open the islands for tourism.
Transportation Paracel Islands
Airports: 1 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)
Ports and terminals:small Chinese port facilities on Woody Island and Duncan Islandbeing expanded
Military Paracel Islands
Military - note: occupied by China
Transnational Issues Paracel Islands
Disputes - international: occupied by China, also claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007
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@Paraguay
Introduction Paraguay
Background:In the disastrous War of the Triple Alliance (1865-70), Paraguaylost two-thirds of all adult males and much of its territory. Itstagnated economically for the next half century. In the Chaco Warof 1932-35, large, economically important areas were won fromBolivia. The 35-year military dictatorship of Alfredo STROESSNER wasoverthrown in 1989, and, despite a marked increase in politicalinfighting in recent years, relatively free and regular presidentialelections have been held since then.
Geography Paraguay
Location:Central South America, northeast of Argentina
Geographic coordinates:23 00 S, 58 00 W
Map references:South America
Area:total: 406,750 sq kmland: 397,300 sq kmwater: 9,450 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than California
Land boundaries: total: 3,995 km border countries: Argentina 1,880 km, Bolivia 750 km, Brazil 1,365 km
Coastline:0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:none (landlocked)
Climate:subtropical to temperate; substantial rainfall in the easternportions, becoming semiarid in the far west
Terrain:grassy plains and wooded hills east of Rio Paraguay; Gran Chacoregion west of Rio Paraguay mostly low, marshy plain near the river,and dry forest and thorny scrub elsewhere
Elevation extremes:lowest point: junction of Rio Paraguay and Rio Parana 46 mhighest point: Cerro Pero (Cerro Tres Kandu) 842 m
Natural resources:hydropower, timber, iron ore, manganese, limestone
Land use: arable land: 7.47% permanent crops: 0.24% other: 92.29% (2005)
Irrigated land:670 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:local flooding in southeast (early September to June); poorlydrained plains may become boggy (early October to June)
Environment - current issues:deforestation; water pollution; inadequate means for waste disposalpose health risks for many urban residents; loss of wetlands
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Lawof the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:landlocked; lies between Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil; populationconcentrated in southern part of country
People Paraguay
Population:6,506,464 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 37.7% (male 1,245,149/female 1,204,970)15-64 years: 57.5% (male 1,878,761/female 1,862,266)65 years and over: 4.8% (male 145,899/female 169,419) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 21.3 yearsmale: 21.1 yearsfemale: 21.6 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:2.45% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:29.1 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:4.49 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:-0.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 24.78 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 29.4 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 19.92 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 75.1 yearsmale: 72.56 yearsfemale: 77.78 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:3.89 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.5% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:15,000 (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:600 (2003 est.)
Nationality: noun: Paraguayan(s) adjective: Paraguayan
Ethnic groups:mestizo (mixed Spanish and Amerindian) 95%, other 5%
Religions:Roman Catholic 90%, Mennonite and other Protestant 10%
Languages:Spanish (official), Guarani (official)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 94%male: 94.9%female: 93% (2003 est.)
Government Paraguay
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Paraguayconventional short form: Paraguaylocal long form: Republica del Paraguaylocal short form: Paraguay
Government type:constitutional republic
Capital:name: Asunciongeographic coordinates: 25 16 S, 57 40 Wtime difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)
Administrative divisions:17 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) and 1capital city*; Alto Paraguay, Alto Parana, Amambay, Asuncion*,Boqueron, Caaguazu, Caazapa, Canindeyu, Central, Concepcion,Cordillera, Guaira, Itapua, Misiones, Neembucu, Paraguari,Presidente Hayes, San Pedro
Independence:14 May 1811 (from Spain)
National holiday:Independence Day, 14 May 1811 (observed 15 May annually)
Constitution:promulgated 20 June 1992
Legal system:based on Argentine codes, Roman law, and French codes; judicialreview of legislative acts in Supreme Court of Justice; acceptscompulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal and compulsory up to age 75
Executive branch:chief of state: President Nicanor DUARTE FRUTOS (since 15 August2003); Vice President Luis CASTIGLIONI Joria (since 15 August 2003);note - the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernmenthead of government: President Nicanor DUARTE FRUTOS (since 15 August2003); Vice President Luis CASTIGLIONI Joria (since 15 August 2003)cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the presidentelections: president and vice president elected on the same ticketby popular vote for a single five-year term; election last held 27April 2003 (next to be held April 2008)election results: Nicanor DUARTE FRUTOS elected president; percentof vote - Nicanor DUARTE FRUTOS 37.1%, Julio Cesar Ramon FRANCOGomez 23.9%, Pedro Nicolas Maraa FADUL Niella 21.3%, GuillermoSANCHEZ Guffanti 13.5%, other 4.2%
Legislative branch:bicameral Congress or Congreso consists of the Chamber of Senatorsor Camara de Senadores (45 seats; members are elected by popularvote to serve five-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camarade Diputados (80 seats; members are elected by popular vote to servefive-year terms)elections: Chamber of Senators - last held 27 April 2003 (next to beheld April 2008); Chamber of Deputies - last held 27 April 2003(next to be held April 2008)election results: Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by party -NA; seats by party - ANR 16, PLRA 12, UNACE 7, PQ 7, PPS 2, PEN 1;Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party- ANR 37, PLRA 21, UNACE 10, PQ 10, PPS 2note: as of January 2006, changes in party affiliation has led tothe composition of the legislature as follows: Chamber of Senators -seats by party - ANR 18, PLRA 12, UNACE 5, PQ 7, PPS 2, PEN 1;Chamber of Deputies - seats by party - ANR 39, PLRA 21, UNACE 8, PQ10, PPS 2
Judicial branch:Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (judgesappointed on the proposal of the Council of Magistrates or Consejode la Magistratura)
Political parties and leaders:Asociacion Nacional Republicana - Colorado Party or ANR [Jose A.ALDERETE, interim president]; Movimiento Union Nacional deCiudadanos Eticos or UNACE [Enrique GONZALEZ Quintana, actingchairman]; Patria Querida (Beloved Fatherland Party) or PQ [PedroNicolas Maraa FADUL Niella]; Partido Encuentro Nacional or PEN [LuisTORALES Kennedy]; Partido Liberal Radical Autentico or PLRA [BlasLLANO]; Partido Pais Solidario or PPS [Carlos Alberto FILIZZOLAPallares]note: Nicanor DUARTE FRUTOS on leave as party leader of the ColoradoParty or ANR while serving as President of Paraguay; Lino CesarOVIEDO Silva, leader of UNACE, is currently serving a ten-yearprison term
Political pressure groups and leaders:Ahorristas Estafados or AE; National Coordinating Board ofCampesino Organizations or MCNOC [Luis AGUAYO]; National Federationof Campesinos or FNC [Odilon ESPINOLA]; National Workers Central orCNT [Secretary General Juan TORRALES]; Paraguayan WorkersConfederation or CPT; Roman Catholic Church; Unitary Workers Centralor CUT [Jorge Guzman ALVARENGA Malgarejo]
International organization participation:CAN (associate), CSN, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU,ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MIGA,MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCL,WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador James SPALDING Hellmerschancery: 2400 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone: [1] (202) 483-6960 through 6962FAX: [1] (202) 234-4508consulate(s) general: Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:Ambassador James C. CASONembassy: 1776 Avenida Mariscal Lopez, Casilla Postal 402, Asuncionmailing address: Unit 4711, APO AA 34036-0001telephone: [595] (21) 213-715FAX: [595] (21) 213-728
Flag description:three equal, horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue with anemblem centered in the white band; unusual flag in that the emblemis different on each side; the obverse (hoist side at the left)bears the national coat of arms (a yellow five-pointed star within agreen wreath capped by the words REPUBLICA DEL PARAGUAY, all withintwo circles); the reverse (hoist side at the right) bears the sealof the treasury (a yellow lion below a red Cap of Liberty and thewords Paz y Justicia (Peace and Justice) capped by the wordsREPUBLICA DEL PARAGUAY, all within two circles)
Economy Paraguay
Economy - overview:Landlocked Paraguay has a market economy marked by a large informalsector. This sector features both reexport of imported consumergoods to neighboring countries, as well as the activities ofthousands of microenterprises and urban street vendors. Because ofthe importance of the informal sector, accurate economic measuresare difficult to obtain. A large percentage of the populationderives its living from agricultural activity, often on asubsistence basis. The formal economy grew by an average of about 3%annually in 1995-97, but averaged near-zero growth in 1998-2001 andcontracted by 2.3 percent in 2002, in response to regional contagionand an outbreak of hoof-and-mouth disease. On a per capita basis,real income has stagnated at 1980 levels. Most observers attributeParaguay's poor economic performance to political uncertainty,corruption, lack of progress on structural reform, substantialinternal and external debt, and deficient infrastructure. Aided by afirmer exchange rate and perhaps a greater confidence in theeconomic policy of the DUARTE FRUTOS administration, the economyrebounded between 2003 and 2006, posting modest growth each year.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$30.64 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$7.696 billion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:3.2% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$4,700 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 22.4% industry: 18.4% services: 59.2% (2006 est.)
Labor force: 2.742 million (2006 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 45% industry: NA% services: NA%
Unemployment rate:9.4% (2005 est.)
Population below poverty line:32% (2005 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 0.5% highest 10%: 43.8% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:56.8 (1999)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):9% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):19.3% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget:revenues: $1.773 billionexpenditures: $1.733 billion; including capital expenditures of $700million (2006 est.)
Public debt:30.9% of GDP (2006 est.)
Agriculture - products:cotton, sugarcane, soybeans, corn, wheat, tobacco, cassava(tapioca), fruits, vegetables; beef, pork, eggs, milk; timber
Industries:sugar, cement, textiles, beverages, wood products, steel,metallurgic, electric power
Industrial production growth rate:0% (2000 est.)
Electricity - production:51.77 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 0% hydro: 99.9% nuclear: 0% other: 0.1% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:3.133 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:45.01 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2004)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:27,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports:NA bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:NA bbl/day (2001)
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Current account balance:$-300 million (2006 est.)
Exports:$1.69 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:soybeans, feed, cotton, meat, edible oils, electricity, wood,leather
Exports - partners:Uruguay 28.4%, Brazil 19.3%, Argentina 6.4%, Russia 6%, China 4.1%(2005)
Imports:$4.5 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities:road vehicles, consumer goods, tobacco, petroleum products,electrical machinery
Imports - partners:Brazil 27.2%, China 20.5%, Argentina 19.7%, US 5.3%, Switzerland4.2% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$1.543 billion (2006 est.)
Debt - external:$3.722 billion (2006 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$NA
Currency (code):guarani (PYG)
Currency code:PYG
Exchange rates:guarani per US dollar - 5,680.71 (2006), 6,178 (2005), 5,974.6(2004), 6,424.3 (2003), 5,716.3 (2002)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Paraguay
Telephones - main lines in use:320,300 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:1.887 million (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: meager telephone service; principal switchingcenter is in Asunciondomestic: fair microwave radio relay networkinternational: country code - 595; satellite earth station - 1Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 46, FM 27, shortwave 6 (three inactive) (1998)
Radios:925,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:5 (2003)
Televisions:990,000 (2001)
Internet country code:.py
Internet hosts:13,178 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):4 (2000)
Internet users:200,000 (2005)
Transportation Paraguay
Airports: 881 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 12over 3,047 m: 31,524 to 2,437 m: 5914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 8691,524 to 2,437 m: 26914 to 1,523 m: 325under 914 m: 518 (2006)
Railways: total: 36 km standard gauge: 36 km 1.435-m gauge (2005)
Roadways: total: 29,500 km paved: 14,986 km unpaved: 14,514 km (1999)
Waterways:3,100 km (2005)
Merchant marine:total: 21 ships (1000 GRT or over) 34,749 GRT/39,280 DWTby type: cargo 15, livestock carrier 1, passenger 1, passenger/cargo1, petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 1foreign-owned: 3 (Argentina 3)registered in other countries: 1 (Ecuador 1) (2006)
Ports and terminals:Asuncion, Villeta, San Antonio, Encarnacion
Military Paraguay
Military branches:Army, National Navy (Armada Nacional, includes Naval Aviation,Marine Corps, General Naval Prefecture), Air Force (Fuerza AereaParaguay, FAP) (2006)
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service;conscript service obligation - 12 months for Army, 24 months forNavy (2004)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 1,345,022females age 18-49: 1,342,725 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 1,109,166females age 18-49: 1,135,046 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 63,058females age 18-49: 62,217 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$53.1 million (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:0.9% (2003 est.)
Transnational Issues Paraguay
Disputes - international:unruly region at convergence of Argentina-Brazil-Paraguay bordersis locus of money laundering, smuggling, arms and illegal narcoticstrafficking, and fundraising for extremist organizations
Illicit drugs:major illicit producer of cannabis, most or all of which isconsumed in Brazil, Argentina, and Chile; transshipment country forAndean cocaine headed for Brazil, other Southern Cone markets, andEurope; corruption and some money-laundering activity, especially inthe Tri-Border Area; weak anti-money-laundering laws and enforcement
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007
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@Peru
Introduction Peru
Background:Ancient Peru was the seat of several prominent Andeancivilizations, most notably that of the Incas whose empire wascaptured by the Spanish conquistadors in 1533. Peruvian independencewas declared in 1821, and remaining Spanish forces defeated in 1824.After a dozen years of military rule, Peru returned to democraticleadership in 1980, but experienced economic problems and the growthof a violent insurgency. President Alberto FUJIMORI's election in1990 ushered in a decade that saw a dramatic turnaround in theeconomy and significant progress in curtailing guerrilla activity.Nevertheless, the president's increasing reliance on authoritarianmeasures and an economic slump in the late 1990s generated mountingdissatisfaction with his regime, which led to his ouster in 2000. Acaretaker government oversaw new elections in the spring of 2001,which ushered in Alejandro TOLEDO as the new head of government -Peru's first democratically elected president of Native Americanethnicity. The presidential election of 2006 saw the return of AlanGARCIA who, after a disappointing presidential term from 1985 to1990, returned to the presidency with promises to improve socialconditions and maintain fiscal responsibility.
Geography Peru
Location:Western South America, bordering the South Pacific Ocean, betweenChile and Ecuador
Geographic coordinates:10 00 S, 76 00 W
Map references:South America
Area:total: 1,285,220 sq kmland: 1.28 million sq kmwater: 5,220 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Alaska
Land boundaries:total: 7,461 kmborder countries: Bolivia 1,075 km, Brazil 2,995 km, Chile 171 km,Colombia 1,800 km, Ecuador 1,420 km
Coastline:2,414 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 200 nmcontinental shelf: 200 nm
Climate:varies from tropical in east to dry desert in west; temperate tofrigid in Andes
Terrain:western coastal plain (costa), high and rugged Andes in center(sierra), eastern lowland jungle of Amazon Basin (selva)
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 mhighest point: Nevado Huascaran 6,768 m
Natural resources:copper, silver, gold, petroleum, timber, fish, iron ore, coal,phosphate, potash, hydropower, natural gas
Land use: arable land: 2.88% permanent crops: 0.47% other: 96.65% (2005)
Irrigated land:12,000 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:earthquakes, tsunamis, flooding, landslides, mild volcanic activity
Environment - current issues: deforestation (some the result of illegal logging); overgrazing of the slopes of the costa and sierra leading to soil erosion; desertification; air pollution in Lima; pollution of rivers and coastal waters from municipal and mining wastes
Environment - international agreements: party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements