Disputes - international:none
Illicit drugs:a major international financial center vulnerable to the layeringand integration stages of money laundering; despite significantlegislation and reporting requirements, secrecy rules persist andnonresidents are permitted to conduct business through offshoreentities and various intermediaries; transit country for andconsumer of South American cocaine and Southwest Asian heroin
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007
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@Syria
Introduction Syria
Background:Following the breakup of the Ottoman Empire during World War I,France administered Syria until its independence in 1946. Thecountry lacked political stability, however, and experienced aseries of military coups during its first decades. Syria united withEgypt in February 1958 to form the United Arab Republic, but inSeptember 1961 the two entities separated and the Syrian ArabRepublic was reestablished. In November 1970, Hafiz al-ASAD, amember of the Socialist Ba'th Party and the minority Alawite sect,seized power in a bloodless coup and brought political stability tothe country. In the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, Syria lost the GolanHeights to Israel, and during the 1990s Syria and Israel heldoccasional peace talks over its return. Following the death ofPresident al-ASAD, his son, Bashar al-ASAD, was approved aspresident by popular referendum in July 2000. Syrian troops -stationed in Lebanon since 1976 in an ostensible peacekeeping role -were withdrawn in April 2005. During the July-August 2006 conflictbetween Israel and Hizballah, Syria placed its military forces onalert but did not intervene directly on behalf of its ally Hizballah.
Geography Syria
Location:Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Lebanon andTurkey
Geographic coordinates:35 00 N, 38 00 E
Map references:Middle East
Area:total: 185,180 sq kmland: 184,050 sq kmwater: 1,130 sq kmnote: includes 1,295 sq km of Israeli-occupied territory
Area - comparative:slightly larger than North Dakota
Land boundaries:total: 2,253 kmborder countries: Iraq 605 km, Israel 76 km, Jordan 375 km, Lebanon375 km, Turkey 822 km
Coastline:193 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmcontiguous zone: 24 nm
Climate:mostly desert; hot, dry, sunny summers (June to August) and mild,rainy winters (December to February) along coast; cold weather withsnow or sleet periodically in Damascus
Terrain:primarily semiarid and desert plateau; narrow coastal plain;mountains in west
Elevation extremes:lowest point: unnamed location near Lake Tiberias -200 mhighest point: Mount Hermon 2,814 m
Natural resources:petroleum, phosphates, chrome and manganese ores, asphalt, ironore, rock salt, marble, gypsum, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 24.8% permanent crops: 4.47% other: 70.73% (2005)
Irrigated land:13,330 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:dust storms, sandstorms
Environment - current issues:deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; waterpollution from raw sewage and petroleum refining wastes; inadequatepotable water
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Environmental Modification
Geography - note:there are 42 Israeli settlements and civilian land use sites in theIsraeli-occupied Golan Heights (August 2005 est.)
People Syria
Population:18,881,361note: in addition, about 40,000 people live in the Israeli-occupiedGolan Heights - 20,000 Arabs (18,000 Druze and 2,000 Alawites) andabout 20,000 Israeli settlers (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 37% (male 3,592,915/female 3,384,722)15-64 years: 59.7% (male 5,779,257/female 5,500,887)65 years and over: 3.3% (male 296,070/female 327,510) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 20.7 yearsmale: 20.6 yearsfemale: 20.9 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:2.3% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:27.76 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:4.81 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.06 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 28.61 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 28.85 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 28.36 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 70.32 yearsmale: 69.01 yearsfemale: 71.7 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:3.4 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:less than 500 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 200 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Syrian(s)adjective: Syrian
Ethnic groups:Arab 90.3%, Kurds, Armenians, and other 9.7%
Religions:Sunni Muslim 74%, Alawite, Druze, and other Muslim sects 16%,Christian (various sects) 10%, Jewish (tiny communities in Damascus,Al Qamishli, and Aleppo)
Languages:Arabic (official); Kurdish, Armenian, Aramaic, Circassian widelyunderstood; French, English somewhat understood
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 76.9%male: 89.7%female: 64% (2003 est.)
Government Syria
Country name:conventional long form: Syrian Arab Republicconventional short form: Syrialocal long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Arabiyah as Suriyahlocal short form: Suriyahformer: United Arab Republic (with Egypt)
Government type:republic under an authoritarian, military-dominated regime
Capital:name: Damascusgeographic coordinates: 33 30 N, 36 18 Etime difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)daylight saving time: +1hr, begins 1 April; ends 30 September
Administrative divisions:14 provinces (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Hasakah, AlLadhiqiyah, Al Qunaytirah, Ar Raqqah, As Suwayda', Dar'a, Dayr azZawr, Dimashq, Halab, Hamah, Hims, Idlib, Rif Dimashq, Tartus
Independence:17 April 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under Frenchadministration)
National holiday:Independence Day, 17 April (1946)
Constitution:13 March 1973
Legal system:based on a combination of French and Ottoman civil law; religiouslaw is used in the family court system; has not accepted compulsoryICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Bashar al-ASAD (since 17 July 2000); VicePresident Farouk al-SHARA (since 11 February 2006) oversees foreignpolicy; Vice President Najah al-ATTAR (since 23 March 2006) overseescultural policyhead of government: Prime Minister Muhammad Naji al-UTRI (since 10September 2003); Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Abdallahal-DARDARI (since 14 June 2005)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the presidentelections: president approved by popular referendum for a seven-yearterm (no term limits); referendum last held 10 July 2000 after thedeath of President Hafiz al-ASAD (next to be held July 2007); thepresident appoints the vice presidents, prime minister and deputyprime ministerselection results: Bashar al-ASAD approved as president; percent ofvote - Bashar al-ASAD 97.29%note: Hafiz al-ASAD died on 10 June 2000; on 20 June, the Ba'thParty nominated Bashar al-ASAD for president and presented his nameto the People's Council on 25 June; he was approved by a popularreferendum on 10 July
Legislative branch:unicameral People's Council or Majlis al-Shaab (250 seats; memberselected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)elections: last held 2-3 March 2003 (next to be held March 2007)election results: percent of vote by party - NPF 67%, independents33%; seats by party - NPF 167, independents 83; note - theconstitution reserves half the seats for workers and peasants anddeclares the Ba'th Party the leading party of the state and it holds135 seats
Judicial branch:Supreme Judicial Council (appoints and dismisses judges; headed bythe President); national level - Supreme Constitutional Court(adjudicates electoral disputes and rules on constitutionality oflaws and decrees; justices appointed for four-year terms by thePresident); Court of Cassation; Appeals Courts (Appeals Courtsrepresent an intermediate level between the Court of Cassation andlocal level courts); local level - Magistrate Courts; Courts ofFirst Instance; Juvenile Courts; Customs Courts; specialized courts- Economic Security Courts (hear cases related to economic crimes);Supreme State Security Court (hear cases related to nationalsecurity); Personal Status Courts (religious; hear cases related tomarriage and divorce)
Political parties and leaders:note - legal parties include: National Progressive Front or NPF[President Bashar al-ASAD, Dr. Suleiman QADDAH, deputy] (includesArab Socialist Renaissance (Ba'th) Party [President Bashar al-ASAD,secretary; Muhammad BAKHITAN, assistant secretary general]; ArabSocialist Renaissance (Ba'th) Party [President Bashar al-ASAD,secretary general; Muhammad BAKHITAN, assistant secretary general];Socialist Unionist Democratic Party [Fadlallah Nasr Al-DIN]; SyrianArab Socialist Union or ASU [Safwan QUDSI]; Syrian Communist Party(two branches) [Wissal Farha BAKDASH, Yusuf Rashid FAYSAL]; SyrianSocial National Party [Jubran URAYJI]; Unionist Socialist Party[Fayez ISMAIL]); illegal parties include: Kurdish Azadi Party [Khayral-Din MURAD]; Kurdish Democratic Alliance (includes four parties)[Abd al-Hamid DARWISH, secretary general]; Kurdish Democratic Front(includes three parties but no designated leader); KurdishDemocratic Union Party or PYD [Ali MUHAMMAD]; Kurdish FutureMovement; Kurdish Yekiti Party [Hasan SALEH]; National DemocraticFront [Hassan Abd al-AZEM];
Political pressure groups and leaders:Damascus Declaration [Riyad SEIF, secretary general] (a broadalliance of opposition groups including: Committee for Revival ofCivil Society [Michel KILO, Riyad SEIF]; Kurdish DemocraticAlliance; Kurdish Democratic Front; National Democratic Front;Syrian Human Rights Society or HRAS [Fawed FAWUZ]); NationalSalvation Front (alliance between former Vice President Abd al-HalimKHADDAM, the SMB, and other small opposition groups); Syrian MuslimBrotherhood or SMB [Sadr al-Din al-BAYANUNI]; (operates in exile inLondon; endorsed the Damascus Declaration but is not an officialmember)
International organization participation:ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, CAEU, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF,IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, UN,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Imad MUSTAFAchancery: 2215 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone: [1] (202) 232-6313FAX: [1] (202) 234-9548
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires MichaelCORBINembassy: Abou Roumaneh, Al-Mansour Street, No. 2, Damascusmailing address: P. O. Box 29, Damascustelephone: [963] (11) 333-1342FAX: [963] (11) 224-7938
Flag description:three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black, colorsassociated with the Arab Liberation flag; two small greenfive-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in the white band;former flag of the United Arab Republic where the two starsrepresented the constituent states of Syria and Egypt; similar tothe flag of Yemen, which has a plain white band, Iraq, which hasthree green stars (plus an Arabic inscription) in a horizontal linecentered in the white band, and that of Egypt, which has a goldEagle of Saladin centered in the white band; the current designdates to 1980
Economy Syria
Economy - overview:The Syrian economy grew by an estimated 2.9% in real terms in 2006,led by the petroleum and agricultural sectors, which togetheraccount for about one-half of GDP. Higher crude oil prices countereddeclining oil production and exports and led to higher budgetary andexport receipts. Total foreign assets of the Central Bank anddomestic banking system rose to about $20 billion in 2006, and thegovernment strengthened the private sector foreign exchange rate byabout 7 percent from the start of the year. The Government of Syriahas implemented modest economic reforms in the past few years,including cutting interest rates, opening private banks,consolidating some of the multiple exchange rates, and raisingprices on some subsidized foodstuffs. Nevertheless, the economyremains highly controlled by the government. Long-run economicconstraints include declining oil production and exports, weakinvestment, and increasing pressure on water supplies caused byheavy use in agriculture, rapid population growth, industrialexpansion, and water pollution.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$75.1 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$27.23 billion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:2.9% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$4,000 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 25.5% industry: 22.1% services: 52.4% (2006 est.)
Labor force: 5.505 million (2006 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 26% industry: 14% services: 60% (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate:8% (2005 est.)
Population below poverty line:11% (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):7% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):22.1% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget:revenues: $8.471 billionexpenditures: $9.42 billion; including capital expenditures of $3.82billion (2006 est.)
Public debt:38% of GDP (2006 est.)
Agriculture - products:wheat, barley, cotton, lentils, chickpeas, olives, sugar beets;beef, mutton, eggs, poultry, milk
Industries:petroleum, textiles, food processing, beverages, tobacco, phosphaterock mining
Industrial production growth rate:1.5% (2005)
Electricity - production:29.64 billion kWh (2004 est.)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 57.6% hydro: 42.4% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:27.57 billion kWh (2004 est.)
Electricity - exports:0.2 kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2004)
Oil - production:420,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption:265,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports:285,000 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - imports:NA bbl/day
Oil - proved reserves:2.5 billion bbl (2006 est.)
Natural gas - production:7.1 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:7.1 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:240.7 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)
Current account balance:$-1.065 billion (2005 est.)
Exports:$6.923 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Exports - commodities:crude oil, petroleum products, fruits and vegetables, cotton fiber,clothing, meat and live animals, wheat
Exports - partners:Iraq 26.3%, Italy 9.9%, Germany 9.9%, Lebanon 9.1%, Egypt 5.1%,France 4.9%, Saudi Arabia 4.6% (2005)
Imports:$6.634 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and transport equipment, electric power machinery, foodand livestock, metal and metal products, chemicals and chemicalproducts, plastics, yarn, paper
Imports - partners:Saudi Arabia 11.6%, China 6.1%, Egypt 5.9%, Italy 5.8%, UAE 5.7%,Ukraine 4.6%, Germany 4.5%, Iran 4.2% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$5.5 billion (2006 est.)
Debt - external:$8.355 billion; note - excludes military debt and debt to Russia(2006 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$180 million (2002 est.)
Currency (code):Syrian pound (SYP)
Currency code:SYP
Exchange rates:Syrian pounds per US dollar - (public sector rate): 50 (2006), 50(2005), 48.5 (2004), (parallel market rate in 'Amman and Beirut): NA(2005), NA (2004), 52.8 (2003), 52.4 (2002), 50.4 (2001), (officialrate for repaying loans): 11.25 (2004-06)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Syria
Telephones - main lines in use:2.903 million (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:3,128,470 (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: fair system currently undergoing significantimprovement and digital upgrades, including fiber-optic technologydomestic: coaxial cable and microwave radio relay networkinternational: country code - 963; satellite earth stations - 1Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region);1 submarine cable; coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Iraq,Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey; participant in Medarabtel
Radio broadcast stations:AM 14, FM 2, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:4.15 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:44 (plus 17 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:1.05 million (1997)
Internet country code:.sy
Internet hosts:66 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2000)
Internet users:1.1 million (2005)
Transportation Syria
Airports: 92 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 26 over 3,047 m: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 15 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 2 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 66 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 11 under 914 m: 54 (2006)
Heliports:7 (2006)
Pipelines:gas 2,764 km; oil 2,000 km (2006)
Railways:total: 2,711 kmstandard gauge: 2,460 km 1.435-m gaugenarrow gauge: 251 km 1.050-m gauge (2005)
Roadways:total: 94,890 kmpaved: 19,073 kmunpaved: 75,817 km (2004)
Waterways:900 km (not economically significant) (2005)
Merchant marine:total: 108 ships (1000 GRT or over) 386,603 GRT/563,506 DWTby type: bulk carrier 8, cargo 93, container 1, livestock carrier 4,petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 1foreign-owned: 11 (Lebanon 7, Romania 3, UAE 1)registered in other countries: 130 (Cambodia 20, Comoros 4, Cyprus3, Dominica 1, Georgia 43, Hong Kong 1, North Korea 14, Lebanon 1,Malta 7, Mongolia 1, Panama 18, Saint Kitts and Nevis 3, SaintVincent and the Grenadines 6, Sierra Leone 1, Slovakia 2, unknown 5)(2006)
Ports and terminals:Baniyas, Latakia
Military Syria
Military branches:Syrian Armed Forces: Syrian Arab Army (includes Syrian Arab Navy),Syrian Arab Air and Air Defense Force (includes Air Defense Command)(2005)
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript serviceobligation - 30 months (18 months in the Syrian Arab Navy); womenare not conscripted but may volunteer to serve (2004)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 4,356,413females age 18-49: 4,123,339 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 3,453,888females age 18-49: 3,421,558 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 225,113females age 18-49: 211,829 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$858 million (FY00 est.); note - based on official budget data thatmay understate actual spending
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:5.9% (FY00)
Transnational Issues Syria
Disputes - international:Golan Heights is Israeli-occupied with the almost 1,000-strong UNDisengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) patrolling a buffer zone since1964; lacking a treaty or other documentation describing theboundary, portions of the Lebanon-Syria boundary are unclear withseveral sections in dispute; since 2000, Lebanon has claimed Shaba'afarms in the Golan Heights; 2004 Agreement and pending demarcationsettles border dispute with Jordan; approximately two million Iraqishave fled the conflict in Iraq, with the majority taking refuge inSyria and Jordan
Refugees and internally displaced persons:refugees (country of origin): 600,000 (Iraq), 434,896 (PalestinianRefugees (UNRWA))IDPs: 305,000 (most displaced from Golan Heights during 1967Arab-Israeli War) (2006)
Trafficking in persons:current situation: Syria is a destination country for women fromSouth and Southeast Asia and Africa for domestic servitude and fromEastern Europe and Iraq for sexual exploitation; women are recruitedfor work in Syria as domestic servants, but some face conditions ofexploitation and involuntary servitude including long hours,non-payment of wages, withholding of passports and otherrestrictions on movement, and physical and sexual abuse; EasternEuropean women recruited for work in Syria as cabaret dancers arenot permitted to leave their work premises without permission andhave their passports withheld; some displaced Iraqi women andchildren are reportedly forced into sexual exploitationtier rating: Tier 3 - Syria does not fully comply with the minimumstandards for the elimination of trafficking and is not makingsignificant efforts to do so
Illicit drugs:a transit point for opiates and hashish bound for regional andWestern markets; weak anti-money-laundering controls and bankprivatization may leave it vulnerable to money-laundering
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007
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@Taiwan
Introduction Taiwan
Background:In 1895, military defeat forced China to cede Taiwan to Japan.Taiwan reverted to Chinese control after World War II. Following theCommunist victory on the mainland in 1949, 2 million Nationalistsfled to Taiwan and established a government using the 1946constitution drawn up for all of China. Over the next five decades,the ruling authorities gradually democratized and incorporated thelocal population within the governing structure. In 2000, Taiwanunderwent its first peaceful transfer of power from the Nationalistto the Democratic Progressive Party. Throughout this period, theisland prospered and became one of East Asia's economic "Tigers."The dominant political issues continue to be the relationshipbetween Taiwan and China - specifically the question of eventualunification - as well as domestic political and economic reform.
Geography Taiwan
Location:Eastern Asia, islands bordering the East China Sea, Philippine Sea,South China Sea, and Taiwan Strait, north of the Philippines, offthe southeastern coast of China
Geographic coordinates:23 30 N, 121 00 E
Map references:Southeast Asia
Area:total: 35,980 sq kmland: 32,260 sq kmwater: 3,720 sq kmnote: includes the Pescadores, Matsu, and Quemoy
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Maryland and Delaware combined
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:1,566.3 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical; marine; rainy season during southwest monsoon (June toAugust); cloudiness is persistent and extensive all year
Terrain:eastern two-thirds mostly rugged mountains; flat to gently rollingplains in west
Elevation extremes:lowest point: South China Sea 0 mhighest point: Yu Shan 3,952 m
Natural resources:small deposits of coal, natural gas, limestone, marble, and asbestos
Land use:arable land: 24%permanent crops: 1%other: 75% (2001)
Irrigated land:NA
Natural hazards:earthquakes and typhoons
Environment - current issues:air pollution; water pollution from industrial emissions, rawsewage; contamination of drinking water supplies; trade inendangered species; low-level radioactive waste disposal
Environment - international agreements:party to: none of the selected agreements because of Taiwan'sinternational statussigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements because ofTaiwan's international status
Geography - note:strategic location adjacent to both the Taiwan Strait and the LuzonStrait
People Taiwan
Population:23,036,087 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 19.4% (male 2,330,951/female 2,140,965)15-64 years: 70.8% (male 8,269,421/female 8,040,169)65 years and over: 9.8% (male 1,123,429/female 1,131,152) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 34.6 yearsmale: 34.1 yearsfemale: 35 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:0.61% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:12.56 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:6.48 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.1 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.09 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.99 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 6.29 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 6.97 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 5.55 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 77.43 yearsmale: 74.67 yearsfemale: 80.47 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.57 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: Taiwan (singular and plural)note: example - he or she is from Taiwan; they are from Taiwanadjective: Taiwan
Ethnic groups:Taiwanese (including Hakka) 84%, mainland Chinese 14%, aborigine 2%
Religions:mixture of Buddhist, Confucian, and Taoist 93%, Christian 4.5%,other 2.5%
Languages:Mandarin Chinese (official), Taiwanese (Min), Hakka dialects
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 96.1%male: NA%female: NA% (2003)
Government Taiwan
Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Taiwan local long form: none local short form: T'ai-wan former: Formosa
Government type:multiparty democracy
Capital:name: Taipeigeographic coordinates: 25 03 N, 121 30 Etime difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)
Administrative divisions:includes main island of Taiwan plus smaller islands nearby and andoff coast of China's Fujian Province; Taiwan is divided into 18counties (hsien, singular and plural), 5 municipalities (shih,singular and plural), and 2 special municipalities (chuan-shih,singular and plural)note: Taiwan uses a variety of romanization systems; while theWade-Giles system still dominates, city of Taipei has adoptedstandard Pinyin romanization for street and place names within itsboundaries; other local authorities use different romanizationsystems; names for administrative divisions that follow are inWade-Giles system with Pinyin equivalents in parenthesescounties: Chang-hua (Changhua), Chia-i (Chiayi) [county], Hsin-chu(Hsinchu), Hua-lien (Hualien), I-lan (Yilan), Kao-hsiung (Kaohsiung)[county], Kin-men (Kinmen), Lien-chiang (Lienchiang, also Matsu),Miao-li (Miaoli), Nan-t'ou (Nantou), P'eng-hu (Penghu), P'ing-tung(Pingtung), T'ai-chung (Taichung), T'ai-nan (Tainan), T'ai-pei(Taipei) [county], T'ai-tung (Taitung), T'ao-yuan (Taoyuan), andYun-lin (Yunlin)municipalities: Chia-i (Chiayi) [city], Chi-lung (Keelung), Hsin-chu(Hsinchu), T'ai-chung (Taichung), T'ai-nan (Tainan)special municipalities: Kao-hsiung (Kaohsiung) [city], T'ai-pei(Taipei) [city]
National holiday:Republic Day (Anniversary of the Chinese Revolution), 10 October(1911)
Constitution:25 December 1947; amended in 1992, 1994, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2005note: constitution adopted on 25 December 1946; went into effect on25 December 1947
Legal system:based on civil law system
Suffrage:20 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President CHEN Shui-bian (since 20 May 2000) andVice President Annette LU (LU Hsiu-lien) (since 20 May 2000)head of government: Premier (President of the Executive Yuan) SUTseng-chang (since 25 January 2006) and Vice Premier (Vice Presidentof the Executive Yuan) TSAI Ing-wen (since 25 January 2006)cabinet: Executive Yuan - (ministers appointed by president onrecommendation of premier)elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticketby popular vote for four-year terms (eligible for a second term);election last held 20 March 2004 (next to be held in March 2008);premier appointed by the president; vice premiers appointed by thepresident on the recommendation of the premierelection results: CHEN Shui-bian re-elected president; percent ofvote - CHEN Shui-bian (DPP) 50.1%, LIEN Chan (KMT) 49.9%
Legislative branch:Legislative Yuan (225 seats - 168 elected by popular vote, 41elected on basis of proportion of islandwide votes received byparticipating political parties, eight elected from overseas Chineseconstituencies on basis of proportion of island-wide votes receivedby participating political parties, eight elected by popular voteamong aboriginal populations; members serve three-year terms)note: as a result of constitutional amendments approved by the nowdefunct National Assembly in June 2005, number of seats inlegislature will be reduced from 225 to 113 beginning with electionin 2007; amendments also eliminated National Assembly thus givingTaiwan a unicameral legislatureelections: Legislative Yuan - last held 11 December 2004 (next to beheld in December 2007)election results: Legislative Yuan - percent of vote by party - DPP38%, KMT 35%, PFP 15%, TSU 8%, other parties and independents 4%;seats by party - DPP 89, KMT 79, PFP 34, TSU 12, other parties 7,independents 4
Judicial branch:Judicial Yuan (justices appointed by the president with consent ofthe Legislative Yuan)
Political parties and leaders:Democratic Progressive Party or DPP [YU Shyi-kun]; Kuomintang orKMT (Nationalist Party) [MA Ying-jeou]; People First Party or PFP[CHANG Chao-hsiung (acting)]; Taiwan Solidarity Union or TSU [HUANGKun-hui]; other minor parties including the Chinese New Party or NP
Political pressure groups and leaders:Taiwan independence movement, various business and environmentalgroupsnote: debate on Taiwan independence has become acceptable within themainstream of domestic politics on Taiwan; political liberalizationand the increased representation of opposition parties in Taiwan'slegislature have opened public debate on the island's nationalidentity; a broad popular consensus has developed that the islandcurrently enjoys sovereign independence and - whatever the ultimateoutcome regarding reunification or independence - that Taiwan'speople must have the deciding voice; public opinion pollsconsistently show a substantial majority of Taiwan people supportsmaintaining Taiwan's status quo for the foreseeable future;advocates of Taiwan independence oppose the stand that the islandwill eventually unify with mainland China; goals of the Taiwanindependence movement include establishing a sovereign nation onTaiwan and entering the UN; other organizations supporting Taiwanindependence include the World United Formosans for Independence andthe Organization for Taiwan Nation Building
International organization participation:APEC, AsDB, ICC, ICRM, IFRCS, IOC, ITUC, WCL, WHO (observer), WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: none; unofficial commercial and cultural relations with the people of the US are maintained through an unofficial instrumentality, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO), which has its headquarters in Taipei and in the US in Washington, DC; there are also branch offices called Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in 12 other US cities
Diplomatic representation from the US: none; unofficial commercial and cultural relations with the people on Taiwan are maintained through an unofficial instrumentality - the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) - which has offices in the US and Taiwan; US office at 1700 N. Moore St., Suite 1700, Arlington, VA 22209-1996, telephone: [1] (703) 525-8474, FAX: [1] (703) 841-1385); Taiwan offices at #7 Lane 134, Hsin Yi Road, Section 3, Taipei, Taiwan, telephone: [886] (2) 2162-2000, FAX: [886] (2) 2162-2251; #2 Chung Cheng 3rd Road, 5th Floor, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, telephone: [886] (7) 238-7744, FAX: [886] (7) 238-5237; and the American Trade Center, Room 3208 International Trade Building, Taipei World Trade Center, 333 Keelung Road Section 1, Taipei, Taiwan 10548, telephone: [886] (2) 2720-1550, FAX: [886] (2) 2757-7162
Flag description:red with a dark blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side cornerbearing a white sun with 12 triangular rays
Economy Taiwan
Economy - overview:Taiwan has a dynamic capitalist economy with gradually decreasingguidance of investment and foreign trade by government authorities.In keeping with this trend, some large, government-owned banks andindustrial firms are being privatized. Exports have provided theprimary impetus for industrialization. The island runs a tradesurplus, and foreign reserves are the world's third largest. Despiterestrictions cross-strait links, China has overtaken the US tobecome Taiwan's largest export market and, in 2006, itssecond-largest source of imports after Japan. China is also theisland's number one destination for foreign direct investment.Strong trade performance in 2006 pushed Taiwan's GDP growth rateabove 4%, and unemployment is below 4%. Consumer spending recoveredfollowing a slowdown early in 2006, when banks tightened lending toaddress a sharp increase in delinquent consumer debt.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$668.3 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$353.9 billion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:4.4% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$29,000 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 1.5% industry: 25.2% services: 73.3% (2006 est.)
Labor force: 10.46 million (2006 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 5.5% industry: 36% services: 58.5% (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate:3.9% (2006 est.)
Population below poverty line:0.9% (2006 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 6.7% highest 10%: 41.1% (2002 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):1% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):18.4% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget:revenues: $67.33 billionexpenditures: $77.93 billion (2006 est.)
Public debt:34.6% of GDP (2006 est.)
Agriculture - products:rice, corn, vegetables, fruit, tea; pigs, poultry, beef, milk; fish
Industries:electronics, petroleum refining, armaments, chemicals, textiles,iron and steel, machinery, cement, food processing, vehicles,consumer products, pharmaceuticals
Industrial production growth rate:6.5% (2006 est.)
Electricity - production:189.7 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 71.4% hydro: 6% nuclear: 22.6% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:175.3 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2005)
Oil - production:7,755 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:965,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports:0 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - imports:0 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - proved reserves:3 million bbl (2006 est.)
Natural gas - production:1.1 billion cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:10.7 billion cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2005)
Natural gas - imports:9.6 billion cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:76.46 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)
Current account balance:$9.7 billion (2006 est.)
Exports:$215 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Exports - commodities:computer products and electrical equipment, metals, textiles,plastics and rubber products, chemicals (2002)
Exports - partners:China 22.5%, Hong Kong 15.7%, US 15%, Japan 7.3% (2006 est.)
Imports:$205.3 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and electrical equipment 44.5%, minerals, precisioninstruments (2002)
Imports - partners:Japan 23%, China 11.9%, US 10.9%, South Korea 7.2%, Saudi Arabia4.9% (2006 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$280.6 billion (2006 est.)
Debt - external:$93.06 billion (2006 est.)
Currency (code):new Taiwan dollar (TWD)
Currency code:TWD
Exchange rates:new Taiwan dollars per US dollar - 32.19 (2006), 31.71 (2005),34.418 (2004), 34.575 (2003), 33.8 (2002)
Fiscal year:1 July - 30 June (up to FY98/99); 1 July 1999 - 31 December 2000for FY00; calendar year (after FY00)
Communications Taiwan
Telephones - main lines in use:13.615 million (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:22.17 million (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: provides telecommunications service for everybusiness and private needdomestic: thoroughly modern; completely digitalizedinternational: country code - 886; satellite earth stations - 2Intelsat (1 Pacific Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean); submarine cables toJapan (Okinawa), Philippines, Guam, Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia,Australia, Middle East, and Western Europe (1999)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 218, FM 333, shortwave 50 (1999)
Radios:16 million (1994)
Television broadcast stations:29 (plus two repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:8.8 million (1998)
Internet country code:.tw
Internet hosts:4,320,310 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):8 (2000)
Internet users:13.21 million (2005)
Transportation Taiwan
Airports: 42 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 38 over 3,047 m: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 1,524 to 2,437 m: 11 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 2 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 41,524 to 2,437 m: 1under 914 m: 3 (2006)
Heliports:3 (2006)
Pipelines:condensate 25 km; gas 661 km (2006)
Railways:total: 2,497 kmnarrow gauge: 1,097 km 1.067-m gauge (685 km electrified)note: 1,400 km .762-m gauge (belonging to the Taiwan SugarCorporation and to the Taiwan Forestry Bureau) used to carryproducts and limited numbers of passengers (2005)
Roadways:total: 37,299 kmpaved: 35,621 km (including 789 km of expressways)unpaved: 1,678 km (2002)
Merchant marine:total: 112 ships (1000 GRT or over) 2,798,992 GRT/4,652,921 DWTby type: bulk carrier 35, cargo 22, chemical tanker 2, container 25,passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 16, refrigerated cargo 7, rollon/roll off 2foreign-owned: 3 (Hong Kong 3)registered in other countries: 463 (Bolivia 1, Cambodia 2, Honduras2, Hong Kong 6, Italy 10, Liberia 69, Malta 2, Panama 308, Singapore59, UK 1, US 1, unknown 2) (2006)
Ports and terminals:Chi-lung (Keelung), Hua-lien, Kao-hsiung, Su-ao, T'ai-chung
Military Taiwan
Military branches:Army, Navy (includes Marine Corps), Air Force, Coast GuardAdministration, Armed Forces Reserve Command, Combined ServiceForces Command, Armed Forces Police Command
Military service age and obligation:19-35 years of age for military service; service obligation 16months (to be shortened to 12 months in 2008); women in Air Forceservice are restricted to noncombat roles (2005)
Manpower available for military service:males age 19-49: 5,883,828females age 19-49: 5,680,773 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 19-49: 4,749,537females age 19-49: 4,644,607 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 174,173females age 19-49: 163,683 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$7.93 billion (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:2.4% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Taiwan
Disputes - international:involved in complex dispute with China, Malaysia, Philippines,Vietnam, and possibly Brunei over the Spratly Islands; the 2002"Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea" haseased tensions but falls short of a legally binding "code ofconduct" desired by several of the disputants; Paracel Islands areoccupied by China, but claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam; in 2003, Chinaand Taiwan became more vocal in rejecting both Japan's claims to theuninhabited islands of the Senkaku-shoto (Diaoyu Tai) and Japan'sunilaterally declared exclusive economic zone in the East China Seawhere all parties engage in hydrocarbon prospecting
Trafficking in persons:current situation: Taiwan is primarily a destination for men,women, and children trafficked for forced labor and sexualexploitation; women from China and Southeast Asian countries aretrafficked for sexual exploitation and forced labor; women andchildren, primarily from Vietnam, are trafficked through the use offraudulent marriages, deceptive employment offers, and illegalsmuggling for commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor; asignificant share of foreign workers - primarily from Vietnam,Thailand, and the Philippines - are recruited legally forlow-skilled jobs, and are subjected to forced labor or involuntaryservitude by labor agencies or employers upon arrival in Taiwan; toa much lesser extent, there is internal trafficking of children forsexual exploitation and trafficking of a small and declining numberof Taiwanese women to Japan for commercial sexual exploitationtier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Taiwan is placed on the Tier 2Watch List for its failure to show evidence of increasing effortsover the past year to address trafficking, despite ample resourcesto do so, particularly the serious level of forced labor and sexualservitude among legally migrating Southeast Asian contract workersand brides
Illicit drugs:regional transit point for heroin and methamphetamine; majorproblem with domestic consumption of methamphetamine and heroin;renewal of domestic methamphetamine production is a problem
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007
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@Tajikistan
Introduction Tajikistan
Background:The Tajik people came under Russian rule in the 1860s and 1870s,but Russia's hold on Central Asia weakened following the Revolutionof 1917. Bolshevik control of the area was fiercely contested andnot fully reestablished until 1925. Tajikistan became independent in1991 following the breakup of the Soviet Union, and it is now in theprocess of strengthening its democracy and transitioning to a freemarket economy after its 1992-1997 civil war. There have been nomajor security incidents in recent years, although the countryremains the poorest in the former Soviet sphere. Attention by theinternational community in the wake of the war in Afghanistan hasbrought increased economic development assistance, which couldcreate jobs and increase stability in the long term. Tajikistan isin the early stages of seeking World Trade Organization membershipand has joined NATO's Partnership for Peace.
Geography Tajikistan
Location:Central Asia, west of China
Geographic coordinates:39 00 N, 71 00 E
Map references:Asia
Area:total: 143,100 sq kmland: 142,700 sq kmwater: 400 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Wisconsin
Land boundaries:total: 3,651 kmborder countries: Afghanistan 1,206 km, China 414 km, Kyrgyzstan 870km, Uzbekistan 1,161 km
Coastline:0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:none (landlocked)
Climate:midlatitude continental, hot summers, mild winters; semiarid topolar in Pamir Mountains
Terrain:Pamir and Alay Mountains dominate landscape; western Fergana Valleyin north, Kofarnihon and Vakhsh Valleys in southwest
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Syr Darya (Sirdaryo) 300 mhighest point: Qullai Ismoili Somoni 7,495 m
Natural resources:hydropower, some petroleum, uranium, mercury, brown coal, lead,zinc, antimony, tungsten, silver, gold
Land use: arable land: 6.52% permanent crops: 0.89% other: 92.59% (2005)
Irrigated land:7,220 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:earthquakes and floods
Environment - current issues: inadequate sanitation facilities; increasing levels of soil salinity; industrial pollution; excessive pesticides
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:landlocked; mountainous region dominated by the Trans-Alay Range inthe north and the Pamirs in the southeast; highest point, QullaiIsmoili Somoni (formerly Communism Peak), was the tallest mountainin the former USSR
People Tajikistan
Population:7,320,815 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 37.9% (male 1,396,349/female 1,375,168)15-64 years: 57.4% (male 2,091,476/female 2,108,889)65 years and over: 4.8% (male 154,162/female 194,771) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 20 yearsmale: 19.7 yearsfemale: 20.4 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:2.19% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:32.65 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:8.25 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:-2.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 106.49 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 117.83 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 94.59 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 64.94 yearsmale: 62.03 yearsfemale: 68 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:4 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:less than 200 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Tajikistani(s)adjective: Tajikistani
Ethnic groups:Tajik 79.9%, Uzbek 15.3%, Russian 1.1%, Kyrgyz 1.1%, other 2.6%(2000 census)
Religions:Sunni Muslim 85%, Shi'a Muslim 5%, other 10% (2003 est.)
Languages:Tajik (official), Russian widely used in government and business
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 99.4%male: 99.6%female: 99.1% (2003 est.)
Government Tajikistan
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Tajikistanconventional short form: Tajikistanlocal long form: Jumhurii Tojikistonlocal short form: Tojikistonformer: Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic
Government type:republic
Capital:name: Dushanbegeographic coordinates: 38 35 N, 68 48 Etime difference: UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)
Administrative divisions: 2 provinces (viloyatho, singular - viloyat) and 1 autonomous province* (viloyati mukhtor); Viloyati Khatlon (Qurghonteppa), Viloyati Mukhtori Kuhistoni Badakhshon* [Gorno-Badakhshan] (Khorugh), Viloyati Sughd (Khujand) note: the administrative center name follows in parentheses
Independence:9 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday:Independence Day (or National Day), 9 September (1991)
Constitution:6 November 1994
Legal system:based on civil law system; no judicial review of legislative acts
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Emomali RAHMONOV (since 6 November 1994;head of state and Supreme Assembly chairman since 19 November 1992)head of government: Prime Minister Oqil OQILOV (since 20 January1999)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president, approvedby the Supreme Assemblyelections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term(eligible for a second term); election last held 6 November 2006(next to be held November 2013); prime minister appointed by thepresidentelection results: Emomali RAHMONOV reelected president; percent ofvote - Emomali RAHMONOV 76.4%, Olimzon BOBOYEV 7.2%, other 16.4%
Legislative branch:bicameral Supreme Assembly or Majlisi Oli consists of the Assemblyof Representatives (lower chamber) or Majlisi Namoyandagon (63seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)and the National Assembly (upper chamber) or Majlisi Milliy (34seats; members are indirectly elected, 25 selected by localdeputies, 8 appointed by the president; 1 seat reserved for theformer president; all serve five-year terms)elections: last held 27 February and 13 March 2005 for the Assemblyof Representatives (next to be held February 2010) and 25 March 2005for the National Assembly (next to be held February 2010)election results: Assembly of Representatives - percent of vote byparty - PDPT 74.9%, CPT 13.6%, Islamic Revival Party 8.9%, other2.5%; seats by party - PDPT 51, CPT 5, Islamic Revival Party 2,independents 5; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA%;seats by party - PDPT 29, CPT 2, independents 3
Judicial branch:Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president)
Political parties and leaders:Agrarian Party of Tajikistan or APT [Amir KARAKULOV]; DemocraticParty or DPT [Mahmadruzi ISKANDAROV (imprisoned October 2005)];Islamic Revival Party [Muhiddin KABIRI]; Party of Economic Reform orPER [Olimjon BOBOYEV]; People's Democratic Party of Tajikistan orPDPT [Emomali RAHMONOV]; Social Democratic Party or SDPT [RahmatulloZOYIROV]; Socialist Party or SPT [Abdualim GHAFFOROV]; TajikCommunist Party or CPT [Shodi SHABDOLOV]
Political pressure groups and leaders:unregistered political parties: Agrarian Party [HikmatulloNASREDDINOV]; Party of Justice [Abdurahim KARIMOV]; People's UnityParty [Abdumalik ABDULLOJONOV]; Progressive Party [Sulton QUVVATOV];Socialist Party [Mirhuseyn NAZRIYEV]; note - this is the SPT thatwas disbanded, another pro-government SPT (listed above underpolitical parties) replaced it; Unity Party [Hikmatullo SAIDOV]
International organization participation:AsDB, CIS, EAEC, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, GCTU, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC,IOM, IPU, ITU, MIGA, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SCO, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant)chancery: 1005 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037telephone: [1] (202) 223-6090FAX: [1] (202) 223-6091
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Tracey Ann JACOBSON embassy: 109-A Ismoili Somoni Ave., Dushanbe 734003 mailing address: 7090 Dushanbe Place, Dulles, VA 20189 telephone: [992] (37) 229-20-00 FAX: [992] (37) 229-20-50