Oil - production:14,660 bbl/day (2003)
Oil - consumption:85,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - proved reserves:38.75 million bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:650 million cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:2.55 billion cu m (2003 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - imports: 2.1 billion cu m note: includes Montenegro (2004)
Natural gas - proved reserves:48.14 billion cu m (1 January 2005)
Current account balance:$-2.451 billion (2005 est.)
Exports:$4.553 billion (excluding Kosovo and Montenegro) (2005 est.)
Exports - commodities:manufactured goods, food and live animals, machinery and transportequipment
Imports:$10.58 billion (excluding Kosovo and Montenegro) (2005 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$5.35 billion (2005 est.)
Debt - external:$15.43 billion (including Montenegro) (2005 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$2 billion pledged in 2001 to Serbia and Montenegro (disbursementsto follow over several years; aid pledged by EU and US has beenplaced on hold because of lack of cooperation by Serbia in handingover General Ratko MLADIC to the criminal court in The Hague)
Currency (code):Serbian Dinar (RSD)
Exchange rates:Serbian dinars per US dollar - 58.6925
Communications Serbia
Telephones - main lines in use:2,685,400 (2004)
Telephones - mobile cellular:5.229 million (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: modernization of the telecommunications networkhas been slow as a result of damage stemming from the 1999 war andtransition to a competitive market-based system; network was only65% digitalized in 2005domestic: teledensity remains below the average for neighboringstates; GSM wireless service, available through two providers withnational coverage, is growing very rapidly; best telecommunicationsservice limited to urban centersinternational: country code - 381
Radio broadcast stations:153 (2001)
Internet country code:.rs; note - former ccTLD .yu will remain in service until the endof 2006
Internet hosts:NA
Internet users:1.4 million (2006)
Transportation Serbia
Airports: 39 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 16 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 4 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 23 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 12 (2006)
Heliports:4 (2006)
Pipelines:gas 3,177 km; oil 393 km (2006)
Railways: total: 4,135 km standard guage: 4,135 km 1.435-m guage (electrified 1,195 km) (2005)
Roadways: total: 37,887 km paved: 23,937 km unpaved: 13,950 km (2002)
Waterways:587 km - primarily on Danube and Sava rivers (2005)
Merchant marine:note: see entry for Montenegro
Military Serbia
Military branches:Serbian Armed Forces (Vojska Srbije, VS): Serbian Land Forces(Kopnene Vojska, KoV), Air Force and Air Defense Force(Vozduhoplostvo i Protivozduhoplovna Odbrana, ViPO), naval force tobe determined (2006)
Military service age and obligation: peacetime service obligation begins at age 17 and lasts until age 60 for men and 50 for women; under a state of war or impending war, the obligation can begin at age 16 and be extended beyond 60 (2006)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $14.85 million
Transnational Issues Serbia
Disputes - international:as the final status of the Serbian province of Kosovo approachesresolution through the six-nation contact group, the severalthousand peacekeepers from the UN Interim Administration Mission inKosovo (UNMIK) since 1999, continue to keep the peace betweenKosovar Albanians overwhelmingly supporting Kosovo independence andthe Serb minority in Kosovo and Serbian officials in Belgrade, whooppose independence for the province; ethnic Albanians in Kosovooppose demarcation of the boundary with Macedonia based on the 2000Macedonia-Serbia and Montenegro delimitation agreement; Serbia andMontenegro delimited about half of the boundary with Bosnia andHerzegovina, but sections with Serbia along the Drina River remainin dispute
Refugees and internally displaced persons:refugees (country of origin): 100,651 (Croatia), 46,951 (Bosnia andHerzegovina)IDPs: 228,000 (mostly ethnic Serbs and Roma who fled Kosovo in 1999)(2006)
Illicit drugs:transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin moving to WesternEurope on the Balkan route; economy vulnerable to money laundering
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007
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@Seychelles
Introduction Seychelles
Background:A lengthy struggle between France and Great Britain for the islandsended in 1814, when they were ceded to the latter. Independence camein 1976. Socialist rule was brought to a close with a newconstitution and free elections in 1993. President France-AlbertRENE, who had served since 1977, was re-elected in 2001, but steppeddown in 2004. Vice President James MICHEL took over the presidencyand in July 2006 was elected to a new five-year term.
Geography Seychelles
Location:archipelago in the Indian Ocean, northeast of Madagascar
Geographic coordinates:4 35 S, 55 40 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 455 sq kmland: 455 sq kmwater: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:491 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:tropical marine; humid; cooler season during southeast monsoon(late May to September); warmer season during northwest monsoon(March to May)
Terrain:Mahe Group is granitic, narrow coastal strip, rocky, hilly; othersare coral, flat, elevated reefs
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 mhighest point: Morne Seychellois 905 m
Natural resources:fish, copra, cinnamon trees
Land use:arable land: 2.17%permanent crops: 13.04%other: 84.79% (2005)
Irrigated land:NA
Natural hazards:lies outside the cyclone belt, so severe storms are rare; shortdroughts possible
Environment - current issues:water supply depends on catchments to collect rainwater
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Lawof the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:41 granitic and about 75 coralline islands
People Seychelles
Population:81,541 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 25.9% (male 10,667/female 10,440)15-64 years: 68% (male 27,060/female 28,366)65 years and over: 6.1% (male 1,607/female 3,401) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 28.1 yearsmale: 27 yearsfemale: 29.1 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:0.43% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:16.03 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:6.29 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:-5.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.47 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 15.14 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 19.16 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 10.99 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 72.08 yearsmale: 66.69 yearsfemale: 77.63 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.74 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: Seychellois (singular and plural)adjective: Seychellois
Ethnic groups:mixed French, African, Indian, Chinese, and Arab
Religions:Roman Catholic 82.3%, Anglican 6.4%, Seventh Day Adventist 1.1%,other Christian 3.4%, Hindu 2.1%, Muslim 1.1%, other non-Christian1.5%, unspecified 1.5%, none 0.6% (2002 census)
Languages:Creole 91.8%, English 4.9% (official), other 3.1%, unspecified 0.2%(2002 census)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 91.9%male: 91.4%female: 92.3% (2003 est.)
Government Seychelles
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Seychellesconventional short form: Seychelleslocal long form: Republic of Seychelleslocal short form: Seychelles
Government type:republic
Capital:name: Victoriageographic coordinates: 4 38 S, 55 27 Etime difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)
Administrative divisions:23 administrative districts; Anse aux Pins, Anse Boileau, AnseEtoile, Anse Louis, Anse Royale, Baie Lazare, Baie Sainte Anne, BeauVallon, Bel Air, Bel Ombre, Cascade, Glacis, Grand' Anse (on Mahe),Grand' Anse (on Praslin), La Digue, La Riviere Anglaise, MontBuxton, Mont Fleuri, Plaisance, Pointe La Rue, Port Glaud, SaintLouis, Takamaka
Independence:29 June 1976 (from UK)
National holiday:Constitution Day (National Day), 18 June (1993)
Constitution:18 June 1993
Legal system:based on English common law, French civil law, and customary law
Suffrage:17 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President James MICHEL (since 14 April 2004); note- the president is both the chief of state and head of governmenthead of government: President James MICHEL (since 14 April 2004);note - the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernmentcabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the presidentelections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term(eligible for two more terms); election last held 28-30 July 2006(next to be held in 2011)election results: President James MICHEL elected president; percentof vote - James MICHEL (SPPF) 53.73%, Wavel RAMKALAWAN (SNP) 45.71%,Philippe BOULLE 0.56%; note - this was the first election in whichPresident James MICHEL participated; he was originally sworn in aspresident after former president France Albert RENE stepped down inApril 2004
Legislative branch:unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (34 seats - 25elected by popular vote, 9 allocated on a proportional basis toparties winning at least 10% of the vote; members serve five-yearterms)elections: last held 4-6 December 2002 (next to be held in December2007)election results: percent of vote by party - SPPF 54.3%, SNP 42.6%,DP 3.1%; seats by party - SPPF 23, SNP 11
Judicial branch:Court of Appeal; Supreme Court; judges for both courts areappointed by the president
Political parties and leaders:Democratic Party or DP [James MANCHAM, Paul CHOW]; SeychellesNational Party or SNP [Wavel RAMKALAWAN] (formerly the UnitedOpposition or UO); Seychelles People's Progressive Front or SPPF[France Albert RENE, James MICHEL] (the governing party)
Political pressure groups and leaders:Roman Catholic Church; trade unions
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, C, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jeremie BONNELAME chancery: 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400C, New York, NY 10017 telephone: [1] (212) 972-1785 FAX: [1] (212) 972-1786
Diplomatic representation from the US:the US does not have an embassy in Seychelles; the ambassador toMauritius is accredited to Seychelles
Flag description:five oblique bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, red, white, andgreen (bottom) radiating from the bottom of the hoist side
Economy Seychelles
Economy - overview:Since independence in 1976, per capita output in this Indian Oceanarchipelago has expanded to roughly seven times the oldnear-subsistence level. Growth has been led by the tourist sector,which employs about 30% of the labor force and provides more than70% of hard currency earnings, and by tuna fishing. In recent yearsthe government has encouraged foreign investment in order to upgradehotels and other services. At the same time, the government hasmoved to reduce the dependence on tourism by promoting thedevelopment of farming, fishing, and small-scale manufacturing.Sharp drops illustrated the vulnerability of the tourist sector in1991-92 due largely to the Gulf War, and once again following the 11September 2001 terrorist attacks on the US. Growth slowed in1998-2002, and fell in 2003, due to sluggish tourist and tunasectors, but resumed in 2004. Growth turned negative again in2005-06. Tight controls on exchange rates and the scarcity offoreign exchange have impaired short-term economic prospects. Theblack-market value of the Seychelles rupee is half the officialexchange rate; without a devaluation of the currency, the touristsector may remain sluggish as vacationers seek cheaper destinationssuch as Comoros, Mauritius, and Madagascar.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$626 million (2002 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$712 million (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:-1% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$7,800 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 3.2% industry: 30.1% services: 66.7% (2006 est.)
Labor force: 30,900 (1996)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 10% industry: 19% services: 71% (1989)
Unemployment rate:NA%
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):0.7% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):44.2% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget:revenues: $371.1 millionexpenditures: $376 million; including capital expenditures of $NA(2006 est.)
Public debt:166.1% of GDP (2006 est.)
Agriculture - products:coconuts, cinnamon, vanilla, sweet potatoes, cassava (tapioca),bananas; poultry; tuna
Industries:fishing, tourism, processing of coconuts and vanilla, coir (coconutfiber) rope, boat building, printing, furniture; beverages
Industrial production growth rate:NA%
Electricity - production:208 million kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:193.4 million kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2004)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:5,600 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports:NA bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:NA bbl/day (2001)
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Current account balance:$-78.59 million (2006 est.)
Exports:$365.1 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Exports - commodities:canned tuna, frozen fish, cinnamon bark, copra, petroleum products(reexports)
Exports - partners:UK 23%, Spain 19.8%, France 11.4%, Japan 9.7%, Italy 7.4%, Germany5.8%, Netherlands 5.4% (2005)
Imports:$570.6 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products, chemicals
Imports - partners:Saudi Arabia 15.2%, South Africa 13.9%, Spain 13.6%, France 7.2%,Singapore 6.9%, Italy 5.7% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$44.78 million (2006 est.)
Debt - external:$616.7 million (2006 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$16.4 million (1995)
Currency (code):Seychelles rupee (SCR)
Currency code:SCR
Exchange rates:Seychelles rupees per US dollar - 5.5 (2006), 5.5 (2005), 5.5(2004), 5.4007 (2003), 5.48 (2002)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Seychelles
Telephones - main lines in use:21,400 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:57,000 (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: effective systemdomestic: radiotelephone communications between islands in thearchipelagointernational: country code - 248; direct radiotelephonecommunications with adjacent island countries and African coastalcountries; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios:42,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:2 (plus 9 repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:11,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.sc
Internet hosts:72 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2000)
Internet users:20,000 (2005)
Transportation Seychelles
Airports: 15 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 2 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 7914 to 1,523 m: 3under 914 m: 4 (2006)
Roadways:total: 458 kmpaved: 440 kmunpaved: 18 km (2003)
Merchant marine:total: 5 ships (1000 GRT or over) 69,777 GRT/113,501 DWTby type: cargo 1, chemical tanker 4foreign-owned: 1 (Nigeria 1) (2006)
Ports and terminals:Victoria
Military Seychelles
Military branches:Seychelles Defense Force: Army, Coast Guard (includes Navy Wing,Air Wing), National Guard (2005)
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2001)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 21,612females age 18-49: 22,459 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 16,122females age 18-49: 18,777 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$14.85 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:2.1% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Seychelles
Disputes - international: together with Mauritius, Seychelles claims the Chagos Archipelago (UK-administered British Indian Ocean Territory)
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007
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@Sierra Leone
Introduction Sierra Leone
Background:The government is slowly reestablishing its authority after the1991 to 2002 civil war that resulted in tens of thousands of deathsand the displacement of more than 2 million people (about one-thirdof the population). The last UN peacekeepers withdrew in December2005, leaving full responsibility for security with domestic forces,but a new civilian UN office remains to support the government.Mounting tensions related to planned 2007 elections, deterioratingpolitical and economic conditions in Guinea, and the tenuoussecurity situation in neighboring Liberia may present challenges tocontinuing progress in Sierra Leone's stability.
Geography Sierra Leone
Location:Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guineaand Liberia
Geographic coordinates:8 30 N, 11 30 W
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 71,740 sq kmland: 71,620 sq kmwater: 120 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than South Carolina
Land boundaries: total: 958 km border countries: Guinea 652 km, Liberia 306 km
Coastline: 402 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm
Climate:tropical; hot, humid; summer rainy season (May to December); winterdry season (December to April)
Terrain:coastal belt of mangrove swamps, wooded hill country, uplandplateau, mountains in east
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 mhighest point: Loma Mansa (Bintimani) 1,948 m
Natural resources:diamonds, titanium ore, bauxite, iron ore, gold, chromite
Land use: arable land: 7.95% permanent crops: 1.05% other: 91% (2005)
Irrigated land:300 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:dry, sand-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (December toFebruary); sandstorms, dust storms
Environment - current issues:rapid population growth pressuring the environment; overharvestingof timber, expansion of cattle grazing, and slash-and-burnagriculture have resulted in deforestation and soil exhaustion;civil war depleting natural resources; overfishing
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone LayerProtection, Ship Pollution, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
Geography - note:rainfall along the coast can reach 495 cm (195 inches) a year,making it one of the wettest places along coastal, western Africa
People Sierra Leone
Population:6,005,250 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 44.8% (male 1,321,563/female 1,370,721)15-64 years: 52% (male 1,494,502/female 1,625,733)65 years and over: 3.2% (male 90,958/female 101,773) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 17.4 yearsmale: 17.1 yearsfemale: 17.7 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:2.3% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:45.76 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:23.03 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:0.23 migrant(s)/1,000 populationnote: refugees currently in surrounding countries are slowlyreturning (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 0.96 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 160.39 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 177.47 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 142.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 40.22 yearsmale: 38.05 yearsfemale: 42.46 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:6.08 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:7% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:170,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:11,000 (2001 est.)
Major infectious diseases:degree of risk: very highfood or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,hepatitis A, and typhoid fevervectorborne diseases: malaria and yellow fever are high risks insome locationswater contact disease: schistosomiasisaerosolized dust or soil contact disease: Lassa fever (2007)
Nationality:noun: Sierra Leonean(s)adjective: Sierra Leonean
Ethnic groups:20 African ethnic groups 90% (Temne 30%, Mende 30%, other 30%),Creole (Krio) 10% (descendants of freed Jamaican slaves who weresettled in the Freetown area in the late-18th century), refugeesfrom Liberia's recent civil war, small numbers of Europeans,Lebanese, Pakistanis, and Indians
Religions:Muslim 60%, indigenous beliefs 30%, Christian 10%
Languages:English (official, regular use limited to literate minority), Mende(principal vernacular in the south), Temne (principal vernacular inthe north), Krio (English-based Creole, spoken by the descendants offreed Jamaican slaves who were settled in the Freetown area, alingua franca and a first language for 10% of the population butunderstood by 95%)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and write English, Mende,Temne, or Arabictotal population: 29.6%male: 39.8%female: 20.5% (2000 est.)
Government Sierra Leone
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Sierra Leoneconventional short form: Sierra Leonelocal long form: Republic of Sierra Leonelocal short form: Sierra Leone
Government type:constitutional democracy
Capital:name: Freetowngeographic coordinates: 8 30 N, 13 15 Wtime difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)
Administrative divisions:3 provinces and 1 area*; Eastern, Northern, Southern, Western*
Independence:27 April 1961 (from UK)
National holiday:Independence Day, 27 April (1961)
Constitution:1 October 1991; subsequently amended several times
Legal system:based on English law and customary laws indigenous to local tribes;has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Ahmad Tejan KABBAH (since 29 March 1996,reinstated 10 March 1998); note - the president is both the chief ofstate and head of governmenthead of government: President Ahmad Tejan KABBAH (since 29 March1996, reinstated 10 March 1998); note - the president is both thechief of state and head of governmentcabinet: Ministers of State appointed by the president with theapproval of the House of Representatives; the cabinet is responsibleto the presidentelections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term(eligible for a second term); election last held 14 May 2002 (nextto be held 28 July 2007)election results: Ahmad Tejan KABBAH reelected president; percent ofvote - Ahmad Tejan KABBAH (SLPP) 70.6%, Ernest Bai KOROMA (APC) 22.4%
Legislative branch:unicameral Parliament (124 seats - 112 elected by popular vote, 12filled by paramount chiefs elected in separate elections; membersserve five-year terms)elections: last held 14 May 2002 (next to be held 28 July 2007)election results: percent of vote by party - SLPP 70.06%, APC22.35%, PLP 3%, others 4.59%; seats by party - SLPP 83, APC 27, PLP 2
Judicial branch:Supreme Court; Appeals Court; High Court
Political parties and leaders:All People's Congress or APC [Ernest Bai KOROMA]; Peace andLiberation Party or PLP [Darlington MORRISON, interim chairman];People's Movement for Democratic Change or PMDC [Charles MARGAI];Sierra Leone People's Party or SLPP [Solomon BEREWA]; numerous others
Political pressure groups and leaders:trade unions and student unions
International organization participation:ACP, AfDB, AU, C, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM,IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU,ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU,WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Ibrahim M. KAMARAchancery: 1701 19th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009telephone: [1] (202) 939-9261 through 9263FAX: [1] (202) 483-1793
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas N. HULL embassy: Corner of Walpole and Siaka Stevens Streets, Freetown mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [232] (22) 515 000 or [232] (76) 515 000 FAX: [232] (22) 225471
Flag description:three equal horizontal bands of light green (top), white, and lightblue
Economy Sierra Leone
Economy - overview:Sierra Leone is an extremely poor African nation with tremendousinequality in income distribution. While it possesses substantialmineral, agricultural, and fishery resources, its economic andsocial infrastructure is not well developed, and serious socialdisorders continue to hamper economic development. About two-thirdsof the working-age population engages in subsistence agriculture.Manufacturing consists mainly of the processing of raw materials andof light manufacturing for the domestic market. Alluvial diamondmining remains the major source of hard currency earnings,accounting for nearly half of Sierra Leone's exports. The fate ofthe economy depends upon the maintenance of domestic peace and thecontinued receipt of substantial aid from abroad, which is essentialto offset the severe trade imbalance and supplement governmentrevenues. The IMF has completed a Poverty Reduction and GrowthFacility program that helped stabilize economic growth and reduceinflation. A recent increase in political stability has led to arevival of economic activity, such as the rehabilitation of bauxiteand rutile mining.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$5.38 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$1.233 billion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:6.8% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$900 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 49% industry: 31% services: 21% (2001 est.)
Labor force: 1.369 million (1981 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Unemployment rate:NA%
Population below poverty line:68% (1989 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 0.5% highest 10%: 43.6% (1989)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:62.9 (1989)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):1% (2002 est.)
Budget:revenues: $96 millionexpenditures: $351 million; including capital expenditures of $NA(2000 est.)
Agriculture - products:rice, coffee, cocoa, palm kernels, palm oil, peanuts; poultry,cattle, sheep, pigs; fish
Industries:diamond mining; small-scale manufacturing (beverages, textiles,cigarettes, footwear); petroleum refining, small commercial shiprepair
Industrial production growth rate:NA%
Electricity - production:244 million kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:226.9 million kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2004)
Oil - production:3.993 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:6,600 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports:NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:NA bbl/day
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Exports:$185 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:diamonds, rutile, cocoa, coffee, fish
Exports - partners:Belgium 66%, Germany 13.4%, US 4.6% (2005)
Imports:$531 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, fuels and lubricants, chemicals
Imports - partners:Germany 18.7%, Cote d'Ivoire 11.1%, UK 8.4%, US 6.8%, China 5.5%,Netherlands 5.3% (2005)
Debt - external:$1.61 billion (2003 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$297.4 million (2003 est.)
Currency (code):leone (SLL)
Currency code:SLL
Exchange rates:leones per US dollar - 2,985.4 (2006), 2,889.6 (2005), 2,701.3(2004), 2,347.9 (2003), 2,099 (2002)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Sierra Leone
Telephones - main lines in use:24,000 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:113,200 (2003)
Telephone system:general assessment: marginal telephone and telegraph servicedomestic: the national microwave radio relay trunk system connectsFreetown to Bo and Kenemainternational: country code - 232; satellite earth station - 1Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 1, FM 9, shortwave 1 (1999)
Radios:1.12 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:2 (1999)
Televisions:53,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.sl
Internet hosts:20 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2001)
Internet users:10,000 (2005)
Transportation Sierra Leone
Airports: 10 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 9914 to 1,523 m: 7under 914 m: 2 (2006)
Heliports:2 (2006)
Roadways: total: 11,300 km paved: 904 km unpaved: 10,396 km (2002)
Waterways:800 km (600 km year round) (2005)
Merchant marine:total: 54 ships (1000 GRT or over) 185,037 GRT/249,996 DWTby type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 36, chemical tanker 3, combinationore/oil 3, liquefied gas 1, livestock carrier 1, passenger 1,passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 2foreign-owned: 14 (China 2, Cyprus 1, Egypt 1, Russia 1, Syria 1,UAE 3, Ukraine 4, US 1) (2006)
Ports and terminals:Freetown, Pepel, Sherbro Islands
Military Sierra Leone
Military branches:Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF): Army (includes AirWing, Maritime Wing)
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2001)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 1,086,091 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 539,697 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$14.25 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.7% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Sierra Leone
Disputes - international:domestic fighting among disparate rebel groups, warlords, and youthgangs in Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone perpetuateinsurgencies, street violence, looting, arms trafficking, ethnicconflicts, and refugees in border areas; UN Mission in Sierra Leone(UNAMSIL) has maintained over 4,000 peacekeepers in Sierra Leonesince 1999; Sierra Leone considers excessive Guinea's definition ofthe flood plain limits to define the left bank boundary of theMakona and Moa rivers and protests Guinea's continued occupation ofthese lands, including the hamlet of Yenga occupied since 1998
Refugees and internally displaced persons:refugees (country of origin): 59,952 (Liberia) (2006)
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007
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@Singapore
Introduction Singapore
Background:Singapore was founded as a British trading colony in 1819. Itjoined the Malaysian Federation in 1963 but separated two yearslater and became independent. Singapore subsequently became one ofthe world's most prosperous countries with strong internationaltrading links (its port is one of the world's busiest in terms oftonnage handled) and with per capita GDP equal to that of theleading nations of Western Europe.
Geography Singapore
Location:Southeastern Asia, islands between Malaysia and Indonesia
Geographic coordinates:1 22 N, 103 48 E
Map references:Southeast Asia
Area:total: 692.7 sq kmland: 682.7 sq kmwater: 10 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly more than 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:193 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 3 nmexclusive fishing zone: within and beyond territorial sea, asdefined in treaties and practice
Climate:tropical; hot, humid, rainy; two distinct monsoon seasons -Northeastern monsoon (December to March) and Southwestern monsoon(June to September); inter-monsoon - frequent afternoon and earlyevening thunderstorms
Terrain:lowland; gently undulating central plateau contains water catchmentarea and nature preserve
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Singapore Strait 0 mhighest point: Bukit Timah 166 m
Natural resources:fish, deepwater ports
Land use:arable land: 1.47%permanent crops: 1.47%other: 97.06% (2005)
Irrigated land:NA
Natural hazards:NA
Environment - current issues:industrial pollution; limited natural fresh water resources;limited land availability presents waste disposal problems; seasonalsmoke/haze resulting from forest fires in Indonesia
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection,Ship Pollutionsigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:focal point for Southeast Asian sea routes
People Singapore
Population:4,492,150 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 15.6% (male 362,329/female 337,964)15-64 years: 76.1% (male 1,666,709/female 1,750,736)65 years and over: 8.3% (male 165,823/female 208,589) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 37.3 yearsmale: 36.9 yearsfemale: 37.6 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:1.42% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:9.34 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:4.28 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:9.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.08 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 2.29 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 2.5 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 2.07 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 81.71 yearsmale: 79.13 yearsfemale: 84.49 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.06 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.2% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:4,100 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 200 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Singaporean(s)adjective: Singapore
Ethnic groups:Chinese 76.8%, Malay 13.9%, Indian 7.9%, other 1.4% (2000 census)
Religions:Buddhist 42.5%, Muslim 14.9%, Taoist 8.5%, Hindu 4%, Catholic 4.8%,other Christian 9.8%, other 0.7%, none 14.8% (2000 census)
Languages:Mandarin 35%, English 23%, Malay 14.1%, Hokkien 11.4%, Cantonese5.7%, Teochew 4.9%, Tamil 3.2%, other Chinese dialects 1.8%, other0.9% (2000 census)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 92.5%male: 96.6%female: 88.6% (2002)
Government Singapore
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Singaporeconventional short form: Singaporelocal long form: Republic of Singaporelocal short form: Singapore
Government type:parliamentary republic
Capital:name: Singaporegeographic coordinates: 1 17 N, 103 51 Etime difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)
Administrative divisions:none
Independence:9 August 1965 (from Malaysian Federation)
National holiday:National Day, 9 August (1965)
Constitution:3 June 1959; amended 1965 (based on preindependence State ofSingapore Constitution)
Legal system:based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJjurisdiction
Suffrage:21 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:chief of state: President S. R. NATHAN (since 1 September 1999)note: uses S. R. NATHAN but his full name and the one used in formalcommunications is Sellapan RAMANATHANhead of government: Prime Minister LEE Hsien Loong (since 12 August2004); Senior Minister GOH Chok Tong (since 12 August 2004);Minister Mentor LEE Kuan Yew (since 12 August 2004); Deputy PrimeMinister Shunmugan JAYAKUMAR (since 12 August 2004); Deputy PrimeMinister WONG Kan Seng (since 1 September 2005)cabinet: appointed by president, responsible to parliamentelections: president elected by popular vote for six-year term; lastappointed 17 August 2005 - see note (next election to be held byAugust 2011); following legislative elections, leader of majorityparty or leader of majority coalition is usually appointed primeminister by president; deputy prime ministers appointed by presidentelection results: Sellapan Rama (S. R.) NATHAN appointed presidentin August 2005 after Presidential Elections Committee disqualifiedthree other would-be candidates; scheduled election not held
Legislative branch:unicameral Parliament (84 seats; members elected by popular vote toserve five-year terms); note - in addition, there are up to ninenominated members; up to three losing opposition candidates who cameclosest to winning seats may be appointed as "nonconstituency"memberselections: last held 6 May 2006 (next to be held in 2011)election results: percent of vote by party - PAP 66.6%, WP 16.3%,SDA 13%, SDP 4.1%; seats by party - PAP 82, WP 1, SDA 1
Judicial branch:Supreme Court (chief justice is appointed by the president with theadvice of the prime minister, other judges are appointed by thepresident with the advice of the chief justice); Court of Appeals
Political parties and leaders:People's Action Party or PAP [LEE Hsien Loong]; SingaporeDemocratic Alliance or SDA [CHIAM See Tong]; Singapore DemocraticParty or SDP [CHEE Soon Juan]; Workers' Party or WP [Sylvia LIM SweeLian]note: SDA includes National Solidarity Party or NSP, SingaporeJustice Party or SJP, Singapore National Malay Organization or PKMS,Singapore People's Party or SPP
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:APEC, APT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, BIS, C, CP, EAS, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC,IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WCL,WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador CHAN Heng Chee chancery: 3501 International Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 537-3100 FAX: [1] (202) 537-0876 consulate(s) general: San Francisco consulate(s): New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Patricia L. HERBOLD embassy: 27 Napier Road, Singapore 258508 mailing address: FPO AP 96507-0001 telephone: [65] 6476-9100 FAX: [65] 6476-9340
Flag description:two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; near the hoistside of the red band, there is a vertical, white crescent (closedportion is toward the hoist side) partially enclosing five whitefive-pointed stars arranged in a circle
Economy Singapore
Economy - overview:Singapore, a highly-developed and successful free-market economy,enjoys a remarkably open and corruption-free environment, stableprices, and a per capita GDP equal to that of the four largest WestEuropean countries. The economy depends heavily on exports,particularly in consumer electronics and information technologyproducts. It was hard hit in 2001-03 by the global recession, by theslump in the technology sector, and by an outbreak of Severe AcuteRespiratory Syndrome (SARS) in 2003, which curbed tourism andconsumer spending. Fiscal stimulus, low interest rates, a surge inexports, and internal flexibility led to vigorous growth in 2004-06,with real GDP growth averaging 7% annually. The government hopes toestablish a new growth path that will be less vulnerable to theglobal demand cycle for information technology products - it hasattracted major investments in pharmaceuticals and medicaltechnology production - and will continue efforts to establishSingapore as Southeast Asia's financial and high-tech hub.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$138.6 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$121.5 billion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:7.4% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$30,900 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 0% industry: 33.8% services: 66.2% (2006 est.)
Labor force: 2.4 million (2006 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: manufacturing 18%, construction 18%, transportation and communication 11%, financial, business, and other services 6%, other 26% (2003)
Unemployment rate:3.1% (2006 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Distribution of family income - Gini index:42.5 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):1% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):21.8% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget:revenues: $19.71 billionexpenditures: $19.85 billion; including capital expenditures of $5.1billion (2006 est.)
Public debt:100.6% of GDP (2006 est.)
Agriculture - products:rubber, copra, fruit, orchids, vegetables; poultry, eggs; fish,ornamental fish
Industries:electronics, chemicals, financial services, oil drilling equipment,petroleum refining, rubber processing and rubber products, processedfood and beverages, ship repair, offshore platform construction,life sciences, entrepot trade
Industrial production growth rate:12.6% (2006 est.)
Electricity - production:32.64 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:30.35 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2004)
Oil - production:9,701 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:800,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - exports:NA bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:NA bbl/day (2001)
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:6.61 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - imports: 6.61 billion cu m note: from Indonesia and Malaysia (2004 est.)
Current account balance:$35.58 billion (2006 est.)
Exports:$283.6 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Exports - commodities:machinery and equipment (including electronics), consumer goods,chemicals, mineral fuels
Exports - partners:Malaysia 14.7%, US 11.5%, Indonesia 10.7%, Hong Kong 10.4%, China9.5%, Japan 6%, Thailand 4.5%, Australia 4.1% (2005)
Imports:$246.1 billion (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment, mineral fuels, chemicals, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:Malaysia 14.4%, US 12.4%, China 10.8%, Japan 10.1%, Indonesia 5.5%,Saudi Arabia 4.7%, South Korea 4.5% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$134.6 billion (2006 est.)
Debt - external:$24.3 billion (2006 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$NA
Currency (code):Singapore dollar (SGD)
Currency code:SGD
Exchange rates:Singapore dollars per US dollar - 1.595 (2006), 1.6644 (2005),1.6902 (2004), 1.7422 (2003), 1.7906 (2002)
Fiscal year:1 April - 31 March
Communications Singapore
Telephones - main lines in use:1.848 million (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:4.385 million (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: excellent servicedomestic: excellent domestic facilities; launched 3G wirelessservice in February 2005international: country code - 65; 9 submarine cables provide directconnection to more than 100 countries; 4 satellite earth stations,supplemented by VSAT coverage
Radio broadcast stations:AM 0, FM 17, shortwave 2 (2003)
Radios:2.6 million (2000)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (broadcasting on six channels); additional reception of numerous UHF and VHF signals originating in Malaysia and Indonesia; note - digital TV for reception in public spaces and transportation is transmitted from 10 sites (2006)
Televisions:1.33 million (1997)