Internet hosts:6,526 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):5 (2000)
Internet users:280,000 (2005)
Transportation Sri Lanka
Airports: 16 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 14 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 7 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 2under 914 m: 2 (2006)
Railways:total: 1,449 kmbroad gauge: 1,449 km 1.676-m gauge (2005)
Roadways: total: 97,287 km paved: 78,802 km unpaved: 18,485 km (2003)
Waterways:160 km (primarily on rivers in southwest) (2005)
Merchant marine:total: 22 ships (1000 GRT or over) 144,066 GRT/196,418 DWTby type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 17, container 2, petroleum tanker 2foreign-owned: 7 (Germany 5, UAE 2)registered in other countries: 5 (Panama 5) (2006)
Ports and terminals:Colombo, Galle
Military Sri Lanka
Military branches:Sri Lankan Army, Sri Lankan Navy, Sri Lankan Air Force (2006)
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 4,933,217females age 18-49: 5,153,597 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 3,789,627females age 18-49: 4,281,043 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 174,049females age 18-49: 167,201 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$606.2 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:2.6% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Sri Lanka
Disputes - international: none
Refugees and internally displaced persons: IDPs: 500,000-600,000 (both Tamils and non-Tamils displaced due to long-term Tamil conflict renewed in 2006) (2006)
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007
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@Sudan
Introduction Sudan
Background:Military regimes favoring Islamic-oriented governments havedominated national politics since independence from the UK in 1956.Sudan was embroiled in two prolonged civil wars during most of theremainder of the 20th century. These conflicts were rooted innorthern economic, political, and social domination of largelynon-Muslim, non-Arab southern Sudanese. The first civil war ended in1972, but broke out again in 1983. The second war and famine-relatedeffects resulted in more than 4 million people displaced and,according to rebel estimates, more than 2 million deaths over aperiod of two decades. Peace talks gained momentum in 2002-04 withthe signing of several accords; a final Naivasha peace treaty ofJanuary 2005 granted the southern rebels autonomy for six years,after which a referendum for independence is scheduled to be held. Aseparate conflict that broke out in the western region of Darfur in2003 has resulted in at least 200,000 deaths and nearly 2 milliondisplaced; as of late 2005, peacekeeping troops were struggling tostabilize the situation. Sudan also has faced large refugee influxesfrom neighboring countries, primarily Ethiopia and Chad, and armedconflict, poor transport infrastructure, and lack of governmentsupport have chronically obstructed the provision of humanitarianassistance to affected populations.
Geography Sudan
Location:Northern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Egypt and Eritrea
Geographic coordinates:15 00 N, 30 00 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 2,505,810 sq kmland: 2.376 million sq kmwater: 129,810 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly more than one-quarter the size of the US
Land boundaries:total: 7,687 kmborder countries: Central African Republic 1,165 km, Chad 1,360 km,Democratic Republic of the Congo 628 km, Egypt 1,273 km, Eritrea 605km, Ethiopia 1,606 km, Kenya 232 km, Libya 383 km, Uganda 435 km
Coastline:853 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmcontiguous zone: 18 nmcontinental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:tropical in south; arid desert in north; rainy season varies byregion (April to November)
Terrain:generally flat, featureless plain; mountains in far south,northeast and west; desert dominates the north
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Red Sea 0 mhighest point: Kinyeti 3,187 m
Natural resources:petroleum; small reserves of iron ore, copper, chromium ore, zinc,tungsten, mica, silver, gold, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 6.78% permanent crops: 0.17% other: 93.05% (2005)
Irrigated land:18,630 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:dust storms and periodic persistent droughts
Environment - current issues: inadequate supplies of potable water; wildlife populations threatened by excessive hunting; soil erosion; desertification; periodic drought
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note: largest country in Africa; dominated by the Nile and its tributaries
People Sudan
Population:41,236,378 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 42.7% (male 8,993,483/female 8,614,022)15-64 years: 54.9% (male 11,327,679/female 11,297,798)65 years and over: 2.4% (male 536,754/female 466,642) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 18.3 yearsmale: 18.1 yearsfemale: 18.5 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:2.55% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:34.53 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:8.97 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:-0.02 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female65 years and over: 1.15 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 61.05 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 61.88 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 60.18 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 58.92 yearsmale: 57.69 yearsfemale: 60.21 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:4.72 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:2.3% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:400,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:23,000 (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: malaria, dengue fever, African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) are high risks in some locations water contact disease: schistosomiasis 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: Sudanese (singular and plural)adjective: Sudanese
Ethnic groups:black 52%, Arab 39%, Beja 6%, foreigners 2%, other 1%
Religions:Sunni Muslim 70% (in north), indigenous beliefs 25%, Christian 5%(mostly in south and Khartoum)
Languages:Arabic (official), Nubian, Ta Bedawie, diverse dialects of Nilotic,Nilo-Hamitic, Sudanic languages, Englishnote: program of "Arabization" in process
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 61.1%male: 71.8%female: 50.5% (2003 est.)
Government Sudan
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of the Sudanconventional short form: Sudanlocal long form: Jumhuriyat as-Sudanlocal short form: As-Sudanformer: Anglo-Egyptian Sudan
Government type:Government of National Unity (GNU) - the National Congress Party(NCP) and Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) formed apower-sharing government under the 2005 Comprehensive PeaceAgreement (CPA); the NCP, which came to power by military coup in1989, is the majority partner; the agreement stipulates nationalelections for the 2008 - 2009 timeframe.
Capital:name: Khartoumgeographic coordinates: 15 36 N, 32 32 Etime difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)
Administrative divisions:25 states (wilayat, singular - wilayah); A'ali an Nil (Upper Nile),Al Bahr al Ahmar (Red Sea), Al Buhayrat (Lakes), Al Jazirah (ElGezira), Al Khartum (Khartoum), Al Qadarif (Gedaref), Al Wahdah(Unity), An Nil al Abyad (White Nile), An Nil al Azraq (Blue Nile),Ash Shamaliyah (Northern), Bahr al Jabal (Bahr al Jabal), Gharb alIstiwa'iyah (Western Equatoria), Gharb Bahr al Ghazal (Western Bahral Ghazal), Gharb Darfur (Western Darfur), Janub Darfur (SouthernDarfur), Janub Kurdufan (Southern Kordofan), Junqali (Jonglei),Kassala (Kassala), Nahr an Nil (Nile), Shamal Bahr al Ghazal(Northern Bahr al Ghazal), Shamal Darfur (Northern Darfur), ShamalKurdufan (Northern Kordofan), Sharq al Istiwa'iyah (EasternEquatoria), Sinnar (Sinnar), Warab (Warab)
Independence:1 January 1956 (from Egypt and UK)
National holiday:Independence Day, 1 January (1956)
Constitution:12 April 1973; suspended following coup of 6 April 1985; interimconstitution of 10 October 1985 suspended following coup of 30 June1989; new constitution implemented on 30 June 1998 partiallysuspended 12 December 1999 by President BASHIR; under the CPA,Interim National Constitution ratified 5 July 2005; Constitution ofSouthern Sudan signed December 2005
Legal system:based on English common law and Shari'a law; as of 20 January 1991,the now defunct Revolutionary Command Council imposed Shari'a law inthe northern states; Shari'a law applies to all residents of thenorthern states regardless of their religion; some separatereligious courts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, withreservations; the southern legal system is still developing underthe CPA following the civil war; Shari'a law will not apply to thesouthern states
Suffrage:17 years of age; universal, but noncompulsory
Executive branch:chief of state: President Umar Hassan Ahmad al-BASHIR (since 16October 1993); First Vice President Salva KIIR (since 4 August2005), Vice President Ali Osman TAHA (since 20 September 2005); note- the president is both the chief of state and head of governmenthead of government: President Umar Hassan Ahmad al-BASHIR (since 16October 1993); First Vice President Salva KIIR (since 4 August2005), Vice President Ali Osman TAHA (since 20 September 2005); note- the president is both the chief of state and head of governmentcabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president; note - theNational Congress Party or NCP (formerly the National Islamic Frontor NIF) dominates al-BASHIR's cabinetelections: election last held 13-23 December 2000; next to be heldno later than July 2009 under terms of the 2005 Comprehensive PeaceAgreementelection results: Umar Hassan Ahmad al-BASHIR reelected president;percent of vote - Umar Hassan Ahmad al-BASHIR 86.5%, Ja'afarMuhammed NUMAYRI 9.6%, three other candidates received a combinedvote of 3.9%; election widely viewed as rigged; all popularopposition parties boycotted elections because of a lack ofguarantees for a free and fair electionnote: al-BASHIR assumed power as chairman of Sudan's RevolutionaryCommand Council for National Salvation (RCC) in June 1989 and servedconcurrently as chief of state, chairman of the RCC, prime minister,and minister of defense until mid-October 1993 when he was appointedpresident by the RCC; he was elected president by popular vote forthe first time in March 1996
Legislative branch:bi-cameral body comprising the National Assembly and Council ofStates (replaced unicameral National Assembly of 360 seats); pendingelections and National Election Law, the Presidency appointed 450members to the National Assembly according to the provisions of the2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement: 52% NCP; 28% SPLM; 14% otherNortherners; 6% other Southerners; 2 representatives from everystate constitute the Council of States; terms in each chamber arefive years following the first electionselections: last held 13-22 December 2000 (next to be held 2008-2009timeframe)election results: NCP 355, others 5; note - replaced by appointmentsunder the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement
Judicial branch:Constitutional Court of nine justices; National Supreme Court;National Courts of Appeal; other national courts; National JudicialService Commission will undertake overall management of the NationalJudiciary
Political parties and leaders:political parties in the Government of National Unity include:National Congress Party or NCP [Ibrahim Ahmed OMAR]; Sudan People'sLiberation Movement or SPLM [Salva Mayardit KIIR]; and elements ofthe National Democratic Alliance or NDA including factions of theDemocratic Union Party [Muhammad Uthman al-MIRGHANI] and Umma Party[SADIQ Siddiq al-Mahdi]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Umma Party [Sadiq al-MAHDI]; Popular Congress Party or PCP [Hassanal-TURABI]
International organization participation:ABEDA, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AU, CAEU, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA,IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA,NAM, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU,WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires, AdInterim Khidir HAROUN (since April 2001)chancery: 2210 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone: [1] (202) 338-8565FAX: [1] (202) 667-2406
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires CameronHUMEembassy: Sharia Ali Abdul Latif Avenue, Khartoummailing address: P. O. Box 699, Khartoum; APO AE 09829telephone: [249] (183) 774701FAX: [249] (183) 774137note: US Consul in Cairo is providing backup service for Khartoum;consular services are being established in Juba (southern Sudan)
Flag description:three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with agreen isosceles triangle based on the hoist side
Economy Sudan
Economy - overview:Sudan has turned around a struggling economy with sound economicpolicies and infrastructure investments, but it still facesformidable economic problems, starting from its low level of percapita output. From 1997 to date, Sudan has been implementing IMFmacroeconomic reforms. In 1999, Sudan began exporting crude oil andin the last quarter of 1999 recorded its first trade surplus, which,along with monetary policy, has stabilized the exchange rate.Increased oil production, revived light industry, and expandedexport processing zones helped sustain GDP growth at 10% in 2006.Agricultural production remains Sudan's most important sector,employing 80% of the work force, contributing 35% of GDP, andaccounting for most of GDP growth, but most farms remain rain-fedand susceptible to drought. Chronic instability - resulting from thelong-standing civil war between the Muslim north and theChristian/pagan south, adverse weather, and weak world agriculturalprices - ensure that much of the population will remain at or belowthe poverty line for years.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$96.01 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$25.5 billion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:9.6% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$2,300 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 35.5% industry: 24.8% services: 39.7% (2006 est.)
Labor force: 7.415 million (1996 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 80% industry: 7% services: 13% (1998 est.)
Unemployment rate:18.7% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line:40% (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):9% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):25.3% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget:revenues: $7.943 billionexpenditures: $10.1 billion; including capital expenditures of $304million (2006 est.)
Public debt:59.6% of GDP (2006 est.)
Agriculture - products:cotton, groundnuts (peanuts), sorghum, millet, wheat, gum arabic,sugarcane, cassava (tapioca), mangos, papaya, bananas, sweetpotatoes, sesame; sheep, livestock
Industries:oil, cotton ginning, textiles, cement, edible oils, sugar, soapdistilling, shoes, petroleum refining, pharmaceuticals, armaments,automobile/light truck assembly
Industrial production growth rate:8.5% (1999 est.)
Electricity - production:3.845 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 52.1% hydro: 47.9% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:3.576 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2004)
Oil - production:344,700 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:66,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports:275,000 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - imports:0 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - proved reserves:1.6 billion bbl (2006 est.)
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:84.95 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)
Current account balance:$-4.51 billion (2006 est.)
Exports:$7.505 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Exports - commodities:oil and petroleum products; cotton, sesame, livestock, groundnuts,gum arabic, sugar
Exports - partners:China 71.1%, Japan 12%, Saudi Arabia 2.8% (2005)
Imports:$8.693 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities:foodstuffs, manufactured goods, refinery and transport equipment,medicines and chemicals, textiles, wheat
Imports - partners:China 20.7%, Saudi Arabia 9.4%, UAE 5.9%, Egypt 5.5%, Japan 5.1%,India 4.8% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$3.552 billion (2006 est.)
Debt - external:$29.69 billion (2006 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$172 million (2001)
Currency (code):Sudanese dinar (SDD)
Currency code:SDD
Exchange rates:Sudanese dinars per US dollar - 217.402 (2006), 243.61 (2005),257.91 (2004), 260.98 (2003), 263.31 (2002)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Sudan
Telephones - main lines in use:670,000 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:1.828 million (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: large, well-equipped system by regionalstandards and being upgraded; cellular communications started in1996 and have expanded substantiallydomestic: consists of microwave radio relay, cable, radiotelephonecommunications, tropospheric scatter, and a domestic satellitesystem with 14 earth stationsinternational: country code - 249; satellite earth stations - 1Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Arabsat (2000)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 12, FM 1, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:7.55 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:3 (1997)
Televisions:2.38 million (1997)
Internet country code:.sd
Internet hosts:16 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):2 (2002)
Internet users:2.8 million (2005)
Transportation Sudan
Airports: 88 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 15 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 73 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 18 914 to 1,523 m: 37 under 914 m: 17 (2006)
Heliports:1 (2006)
Pipelines:gas 156 km; oil 3,930 km; refined products 1,613 km (2006)
Railways:total: 5,978 kmnarrow gauge: 4,578 km 1.067-m gauge; 1,400 km 0.600-m gauge forcotton plantations (2005)
Roadways:total: 11,900 kmpaved: 4,320 kmunpaved: 7,580 km (1999)
Waterways:4,068 km (1,723 km open year round on White and Blue Nile rivers)(2005)
Merchant marine:total: 2 ships (1000 GRT or over) 11,326 GRT/14,068 DWTby type: cargo 1, livestock carrier 1registered in other countries: 2 (Panama 1, Saudi Arabia 1) (2006)
Ports and terminals:Port Sudan
Military Sudan
Military branches:Sudanese People's Armed Forces (SPAF): Army, Navy, Air Force,Popular Defense Force
Military service age and obligation:18-30 years of age for compulsory military service; conscriptservice obligation - three years (August 2004)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 8,291,695females age 18-49: 8,135,683 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 5,427,474females age 18-49: 5,649,566 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 442,915females age 18-49: 426,320 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$587 million (2001 est.) (2004)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:3% (1999) (2004)
Transnational Issues Sudan
Disputes - international:the effects of Sudan's almost constant ethnic and rebel militiafighting since the mid-twentieth century have penetrated all of theneighboring states; as of 2006, Chad, Ethiopia, Kenya, CentralAfrican Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Ugandaprovided shelter for over half a million Sudanese refugees, whichincludes 240,000 Darfur residents driven from their homes byJanjawid armed militia and the Sudanese military forces; Sudan, inturn, hosted 20,000 Chadians, 122,000 Eritreans, 14,810 Ethiopians,7,900 Ugandans and 5,000 Congolese as refugees; in February 2006,Sudan and DROC signed an agreement to repatriate 13,300 Sudanese and6,800 Congolese; Sudan accuses Eritrea of supporting Sudanese rebelgroups; efforts to demarcate the porous boundary with Ethiopiaproceed slowly due to civil and ethnic fighting in eastern Sudan;the boundary that separates Kenya and Sudan's sovereignty is unclearin the "Ilemi Triangle," which Kenya has administered since colonialtimes; while Sudan claims to administer the Hala'ib Triangle northof the 1899 Treaty boundary along the 22nd Parallel, both stateswithdrew their military presence in the 1990s and Egypt has investedin and effectively administers the area; periodic violent skirmisheswith Sudanese residents over water and grazing rights persist amongrelated pastoral populations from the Central African Republic alongthe border
Refugees and internally displaced persons:refugees (country of origin): 116,746 (Eritrea), 20,000 (Chad),14,633 (Ethiopia), 7,901 (Uganda)IDPs: 5,300,000 - 6,200,000 (internal conflict since 1980s; ongoinggenocide in Darfur region, IDP registration for return to SouthSudan started in 2005) (2006)
Trafficking in persons:current situation: Sudan is a source country for men, women, andchildren trafficked for the purposes of forced labor and sexualexploitation; Sudan may also be a transit and destination countryfor Ethiopian women trafficked for domestic servitude; boys aretrafficked to the Middle East, particularly Qatar and the UnitedArab Emirates, for use as camel jockeys; small numbers of girls arereportedly trafficked within Sudan for domestic servitude, as wellas for commercial sexual exploitation in small brothels ininternally displaced persons (IDP) camps; the terrorist rebelorganization "Lord's Resistance Army" (LRA) continues to abduct andforcibly conscript small numbers of children in Southern Sudan foruse as cooks, porters, and combatants in its ongoing war againstUganda; some of these children are then trafficked across bordersinto Uganda or possibly the Democratic Republic of the Congo;children are utilized by rebel groups and the Sudanese Armed Forcesand associated militias in the ongoing conflict in Darfur; duringthe decades of civil war, thousands of Dinka women and children wereenslaved by members of Baggara tribes and subjected to various formsof forced labor without remuneration, as well as physical and sexualabuse; with the cessation of the North-South conflict and theongoing peace process, there were no known new abductions of Dinkaby Baggara tribes during 2005; however, inter-tribal abductions of adifferent nature continue in Southern Sudan and warrant furtherinvestigationtier rating: Tier 3 - Sudan does not fully comply with the minimumstandards for the elimination of trafficking and is not makingsignificant efforts to do so
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007
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@Suriname
Introduction Suriname
Background:First explored by the Spaniards in the 16th century and thensettled by the English in the mid-17th century, Suriname became aDutch colony in 1667. With the abolition of slavery in 1863, workerswere brought in from India and Java. Independence from theNetherlands was granted in 1975. Five years later the civiliangovernment was replaced by a military regime that soon declared asocialist republic. It continued to exert control through asuccession of nominally civilian administrations until 1987, wheninternational pressure finally forced a democratic election. In1990, the military overthrew the civilian leadership, but ademocratically elected government - a four-party New Front coalition- returned to power in 1991 and has ruled since, expanding to eightparties in 2005.
Geography Suriname
Location:Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, betweenFrench Guiana and Guyana
Geographic coordinates:4 00 N, 56 00 W
Map references:South America
Area:total: 163,270 sq kmland: 161,470 sq kmwater: 1,800 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly larger than Georgia
Land boundaries: total: 1,703 km border countries: Brazil 593 km, French Guiana 510 km, Guyana 600 km
Coastline: 386 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical; moderated by trade winds
Terrain:mostly rolling hills; narrow coastal plain with swamps
Elevation extremes:lowest point: unnamed location in the coastal plain -2 mhighest point: Juliana Top 1,230 m
Natural resources:timber, hydropower, fish, kaolin, shrimp, bauxite, gold, and smallamounts of nickel, copper, platinum, iron ore
Land use: arable land: 0.36% permanent crops: 0.06% other: 99.58% (2005)
Irrigated land:510 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:NA
Environment - current issues: deforestation as timber is cut for export; pollution of inland waterways by small-scale mining activities
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection,Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whalingsigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:smallest independent country on South American continent; mostlytropical rain forest; great diversity of flora and fauna that, forthe most part, is increasingly threatened by new development;relatively small population, mostly along the coast
People Suriname
Population:439,117 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 29% (male 65,412/female 62,069)15-64 years: 64.7% (male 145,913/female 138,076)65 years and over: 6.3% (male 12,223/female 15,424) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 26.5 yearsmale: 26 yearsfemale: 26.9 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:0.2% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:18.02 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:7.27 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:-8.76 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 23.02 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 26.89 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 18.95 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 69.01 yearsmale: 66.66 yearsfemale: 71.47 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.32 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:1.7% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:5,200 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 500 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Surinamer(s)adjective: Surinamese
Ethnic groups:Hindustani (also known locally as "East Indians"; their ancestorsemigrated from northern India in the latter part of the 19thcentury) 37%, Creole (mixed white and black) 31%, Javanese 15%,"Maroons" (their African ancestors were brought to the country inthe 17th and 18th centuries as slaves and escaped to the interior)10%, Amerindian 2%, Chinese 2%, white 1%, other 2%
Religions:Hindu 27.4%, Protestant 25.2% (predominantly Moravian), RomanCatholic 22.8%, Muslim 19.6%, indigenous beliefs 5%
Languages:Dutch (official), English (widely spoken), Sranang Tongo(Surinamese, sometimes called Taki-Taki, is native language ofCreoles and much of the younger population and is lingua francaamong others), Hindustani (a dialect of Hindi), Javanese
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 88%male: 92.3%female: 84.1% (2000 est.)
Government Suriname
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Surinameconventional short form: Surinamelocal long form: Republiek Surinamelocal short form: Surinameformer: Netherlands Guiana, Dutch Guiana
Government type:constitutional democracy
Capital:name: Paramaribogeographic coordinates: 5 50 N, 55 10 Wtime difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)
Administrative divisions:10 districts (distrikten, singular - distrikt); Brokopondo,Commewijne, Coronie, Marowijne, Nickerie, Para, Paramaribo,Saramacca, Sipaliwini, Wanica
Independence:25 November 1975 (from Netherlands)
National holiday:Independence Day, 25 November (1975)
Constitution:ratified 30 September 1987
Legal system:based on Dutch legal system incorporating French penal theory;accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Runaldo Ronald VENETIAAN (since 12 August2000); Vice President Ram SARDJOE (since 3 August 2005); note - thepresident is both the chief of state and head of governmenthead of government: President Runaldo Ronald VENETIAAN (since 12August 2000); Vice President Ram SARDJOE (since 3 August 2005); note- the president is both the chief of state and head of governmentcabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the presidentelections: president and vice president elected by the NationalAssembly or, if no presidential or vice presidential candidatereceives a two-thirds constitutional majority in the NationalAssembly after two votes, by a simple majority in the larger UnitedPeople's Assembly (893 representatives from the national, local, andregional councils), for five-year terms (no term limits); electionlast held 25 May 2005 (next to be held in 2010)election results: Runaldo Ronald VENETIAAN reelected president;percent of vote - Runaldo Ronald VENETIAAN 62.9%, Rabin PARMESSAR35.4%, other 1.7%; note - after two votes in the parliament failedto secure a two-thirds majority for a candidate, the vote then wentto a special session of the United People's Assembly on 3 August 2005
Legislative branch:unicameral National Assembly or Nationale Assemblee (51 seats;members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)elections: last held 25 May 2005 (next to be held in 2010)election results: percent of vote by party - NF 39.73%, NDP 22.2%,VVV 13.79%, A-Com 7.21%, A-1 5.86%, other 7.42%; seats by party - NF23, NDP 15, VVV 5, A-Com 5, A-1 3
Judicial branch:Cantonal Courts and a Court of Justice as an appellate court(justices are nominated for life)
Political parties and leaders:Alternative-1 or A-1 (a coalition of Amazone Party of Suriname orAPS [Kenneth VAN GENDEREN], Democrats of the 21st Century or D-21[Soewarto MOESTADJA], Nieuw Suriname or NS [Radjen Nanan PANDAY],Political Wing of the FAL or PVF [Jiwan SITAL], Trefpunt 2000 orT-2000 [Arti JESSURUN]); General Interior Development Party or ABOP[Ronnie BRUNSWIJK]; National Democratic Party or NDP [DesireBOUTERSE]; New Front for Democracy and Development or NF (acoalition which includes A-Combination or A-Com [leader NA],Democratic Alternative 1991 or DA-91 which split from the A-1 beforethe elections of May 2005 and are an independent, business-orientedparty [Winston JESSURUN], National Party Suriname or NPS [RonaldVENETIAAN], United Reform Party or VHP [Ram SARDJOE], Pertjaja Luhuror PL [Salam Paul SOMOHARDJO], Surinamese Labor Party or SPA[Siegfried GILDS]); Party for Democracy and Development in Unity orDOE [Marten SCHALKWIJK]; People's Alliance for Progress or VVV (acoalition of Democratic National Platform 2000 or DNP-2000 [JulesWIJDENBOSCH], Grassroots Party for Renewal and Democracy or BVD[Tjan GOBARDHAN], Party for National Unity and Solidarity of theHighest Order or KTPI [Willy SOEMITA], Party for Progression,Justice, and Perseverance or PPRS [Renee KAIMAN], Pendawalima or PL[Raymond SAPOEN]); Progressive Laborers and Farmers Union or PALU[Jim HOK]; Progressive Political Party or PPP [Surinder MUNGRA];Seeka [Paul ABENA]; Union of Progressive Surinamers or UPS [SheoradjPANDAY]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Association of Indigenous Village Chiefs [Ricardo PANE];Association of Saramaccan Authorities or Maroon [Head Captain WASE];Women's Parliament Forum or PVF [Iris GILLIAD]
International organization participation:ACP, Caricom, CSN, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB, IFAD,IFRCS, IHO (suspended), ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITU,ITUC, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OIC, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Henry Lothar ILLES chancery: Suite 460, 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 244-7488 FAX: [1] (202) 244-5878 consulate(s) general: Miami
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Lisa Bobbie SCHREIBER HUGHES embassy: Dr. Sophie Redmondstraat 129, Paramaribo mailing address: US Department of State, 3390 Paramaribo Place, Washington, DC, 20521-3390 telephone: [597] 472-900 FAX: [597] 425-690
Flag description:five horizontal bands of green (top, double width), white, red(quadruple width), white, and green (double width); there is alarge, yellow, five-pointed star centered in the red band
Economy Suriname
Economy - overview:The economy is dominated by the mining industry, which accounts formore than a third of GDP and subjects government revenues to mineralprice volatility. The short-term economic outlook depends on thegovernment's ability to control inflation and on the development ofprojects in the bauxite and gold mining sectors. Suriname's economicprospects for the medium term will depend on continued commitment toresponsible monetary and fiscal policies and to the introduction ofstructural reforms to liberalize markets and promote competition.The government of Ronald VENETIAAN, in his first term, implementedan austerity program, raised taxes, and attempted to controlspending. Economic policies are likely to remain the same duringVENETIAAN's second term. Prospects for local onshore oil productionare good, as a drilling program is underway. Offshore oil drillingwas given a boost in 2004 when the State Oil Company (Staatsolie)signed exploration agreements with Repsol, Mearsk, and Occidental.Bidding on these new offshore blocks was completed in July 2006.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$3.098 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$1.398 billion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:5% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$7,100 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 13% industry: 22% services: 65% (2001 est.)
Labor force: 156,700 (2004)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 8% industry: 14% services: 78%
Unemployment rate:9.5% (2004)
Population below poverty line:70% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):9.5% (2005 est.)
Budget:revenues: $392.6 millionexpenditures: $425.9 million (2004)
Agriculture - products:paddy rice, bananas, palm kernels, coconuts, plantains, peanuts;beef, chickens; shrimp; forest products
Industries:bauxite and gold mining, alumina production; oil, lumbering, foodprocessing, fishing
Industrial production growth rate:6.5% (1994 est.)
Electricity - production:1.509 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 25.2% hydro: 74.8% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:1.403 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2004)
Oil - production:9,462 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:11,200 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports:1,370 bbl/day (2003)
Oil - imports:1,644 bbl/day (2003)
Oil - proved reserves:150 million bbl (2005)
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:0 cu m (1 January 2005 est.)
Exports:$881 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:alumina, crude oil, lumber, shrimp and fish, rice, bananas
Exports - partners:Norway 23.6%, US 16.5%, Canada 16.1%, Belgium 9.7%, France 7.9%,UAE 7.3% (2005)
Imports:$750 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs, cotton, consumer goods
Imports - partners:US 29.3%, Netherlands 17.5%, Trinidad and Tobago 12.7%, China 6.5%,Japan 5.2%, Brazil 4.3% (2005)
Debt - external:$504.3 million (2005 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$46 million Netherlands provided $37 million for project andprogram assistance, European Development Fund $4 million, Belgium $2million (2003)
Currency (code):Surinam dollar (SRD)
Currency code:SRG
Exchange rates:Surinamese dollars per US dollar - 2.7317 (2005), Surinameseguilders per US dollar - 2.7336 (2004), 2.6013 (2003), 2.3468(2002), note, during 1998, the exchange rate splintered into fourdistinct rates; in January 1999 the government floated the guilder,but subsequently fixed it when the black-market rate plunged; inJanuary 2004, the government introduced the Surinamese dollar asreplacement for the guilder, tied to a US dollar-dominated currencybasket
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Suriname
Telephones - main lines in use:81,100 (2004)
Telephones - mobile cellular:232,800 (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: international facilities are gooddomestic: microwave radio relay networkinternational: country code - 597; satellite earth stations - 2Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 4, FM 13, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:300,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:3 (plus seven repeaters) (2000)
Televisions:63,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.sr
Internet hosts:126 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):2 (2000)
Internet users:30,000 (2005)
Transportation Suriname
Airports: 47 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 5 over 3,047 m: 1 under 914 m: 4 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 42 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 36 (2006)
Pipelines: oil 51 km (2006)
Roadways: total: 4,304 km paved: 1,130 km unpaved: 3,174 km (2003)
Waterways:1,200 km (most navigable by ships with drafts up to 7 m) (2005)
Merchant marine:total: 1 ship (1000 GRT or over) 1,078 GRT/1,214 DWTby type: cargo 1 (2006)
Ports and terminals:Paramaribo
Military Suriname
Military branches:National Army, Naval Element, Air Wing (2006)
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age (est.); no conscription
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 111,582females age 18-49: 103,769 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 77,793females age 18-49: 72,943 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$7.5 million (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:0.7% (2003 est.)
Transnational Issues Suriname
Disputes - international:area claimed by French Guiana between Riviere Litani and RiviereMarouini (both headwaters of the Lawa); Suriname claims a triangleof land between the New and Kutari/Koetari rivers in a historicdispute over the headwaters of the Courantyne; Guyana seeks UnitedNations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) arbitration toresolve the long-standing dispute with Suriname over the axis of theterritorial sea boundary in potentially oil-rich waters
Illicit drugs:growing transshipment point for South American drugs destined forEurope via the Netherlands and Brazil; transshipment point forarms-for-drugs dealing
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007
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@Svalbard
Introduction Svalbard
Background:First discovered by the Norwegians in the 12th century, the islandsserved as an international whaling base during the 17th and 18thcenturies. Norway's sovereignty was recognized in 1920; five yearslater it officially took over the territory.
Geography Svalbard
Location:Northern Europe, islands between the Arctic Ocean, Barents Sea,Greenland Sea, and Norwegian Sea, north of Norway
Geographic coordinates:78 00 N, 20 00 E
Map references:Arctic Region
Area:total: 61,020 sq kmland: 61,020 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmnote: includes Spitsbergen and Bjornoya (Bear Island)
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than West Virginia
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:3,587 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 4 nmexclusive fishing zone: 200 nm unilaterally claimed by Norway butnot recognized by Russia
Climate:arctic, tempered by warm North Atlantic Current; cool summers, coldwinters; North Atlantic Current flows along west and north coasts ofSpitsbergen, keeping water open and navigable most of the year
Terrain:wild, rugged mountains; much of high land ice covered; west coastclear of ice about one-half of the year; fjords along west and northcoasts
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Arctic Ocean 0 m highest point: Newtontoppen 1,717 m
Natural resources:coal, iron ore, copper, zinc, phosphate, wildlife, fish
Land use:arable land: 0%permanent crops: 0%other: 100% (no trees, and the only bushes are crowberry andcloudberry) (2005)
Irrigated land:NA
Natural hazards:ice floes often block the entrance to Bellsund (a transit point forcoal export) on the west coast and occasionally make parts of thenortheastern coast inaccessible to maritime traffic
Environment - current issues:NA
Geography - note:northernmost part of the Kingdom of Norway; consists of nine mainislands; glaciers and snowfields cover 60% of the total area; siteof future seed repository under construction by the Global CropDiversity Trust and the Norwegian Government
People Svalbard
Population: 2,701 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:-0.02% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:NA births/1,000 population
Death rate:NA deaths/1,000 population
Net migration rate:NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
Sex ratio:NA
Infant mortality rate:total: NAmale: NAfemale: NA
Life expectancy at birth:total population: NAmale: NAfemale: NA
Total fertility rate:NA
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0% (2001)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:0 (2001)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:0 (2001)
Ethnic groups:Norwegian 55.4%, Russian and Ukrainian 44.3%, other 0.3% (1998)
Languages:Norwegian, Russian
Literacy:NA
Government Svalbard
Country name:conventional long form: noneconventional short form: Svalbard (sometimes referred to asSpitzbergen)
Dependency status:territory of Norway; administered by the Polar Department of theMinistry of Justice, through a governor (sysselmann) residing inLongyearbyen, Spitsbergen; by treaty (9 February 1920) sovereigntywas awarded to Norway
Government type:NA
Capital:name: Longyearbyengeographic coordinates: 78 13 N, 15 33 Etime difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends lastSunday in October
Independence:none (territory of Norway)
Legal system:NA
Executive branch:chief of state: King HARALD V of Norway (since 17 January 1991)head of government: Governor Per SEFLAND (since 1 October 2005) andAssistant Governor Rune Baard HANSEN (since 2003)elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor and assistantgovernor responsible to the Polar Department of the Ministry ofJustice
International organization participation:none
Flag description:the flag of Norway is used
Economy Svalbard
Economy - overview:Coal mining is the major economic activity on Svalbard. The treatyof 9 February 1920 gives the 41 signatories equal rights to exploitmineral deposits, subject to Norwegian regulation. Although US, UK,Dutch, and Swedish coal companies have mined in the past, the onlycompanies still mining are Norwegian and Russian. The settlements onSvalbard are essentially company towns. The Norwegian state-ownedcoal company employs nearly 60% of the Norwegian population on theisland, runs many of the local services, and provides most of thelocal infrastructure. There is also some hunting of seal, reindeer,and fox.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$NA
GDP - real growth rate:NA%
Labor force:NA
Budget:revenues: $25.07 millionexpenditures: $NA
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 57.9984% hydro: 42.0016% nuclear: 0% other: 0%
Exports:$NA
Imports:$NA
Economic aid - recipient:$8.2 million from Norway (1998)
Currency (code):Norwegian krone (NOK)
Currency code:NOK
Exchange rates:Norwegian kroner per US dollar - 6.4133 (2006), 6.4425 (2005),6.7408 (2004), 7.0802 (2003), 7.9838 (2002)
Communications Svalbard
Telephones - main lines in use:NA
Telephones - mobile cellular:NA
Telephone system:general assessment: probably adequatedomestic: local telephone serviceinternational: country code - 47-790; satellite earth station - 1 ofunknown type (for communication with Norwegian mainland only)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 1, FM 1 (plus 2 repeaters), shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:NA
Television broadcast stations:NA
Televisions:NA
Internet country code:.sj
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):13 (Svalbard and Jan Mayen) (2000)
Internet users:NA
Transportation Svalbard
Airports:4 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 21,524 to 2,437 m: 1914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 2under 914 m: 2 (2006)
Ports and terminals:Barentsburg, Longyearbyen, Ny-Alesund, Pyramiden
Military Svalbard
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$5.501 billion
Military - note:demilitarized by treaty on 9 February 1920
Transnational Issues Svalbard
Disputes - international: despite recent discussions, Russia and Norway dispute their maritime limits in the Barents Sea and Russia's fishing rights beyond Svalbard's territorial limits within the Svalbard Treaty zone
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007
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@Swaziland
Introduction Swaziland
Background:Autonomy for the Swazis of southern Africa was guaranteed by theBritish in the late 19th century; independence was granted in 1968.Student and labor unrest during the 1990s pressured King Mswati III,the world's last absolute monarch, to grudgingly allow politicalreform and greater democracy, although he has backslid on thesepromises in recent years. Swaziland recently surpassed Botswana asthe country with the world's highest known rates of HIV/AIDSinfection.