Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 3.6% industry: 21.2% services: 75.2% (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate:4.9% (2006 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: 2%highest 10%: 25.4% (1994)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:35.2 (1994)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):3.8% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):26.8% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget:revenues: $267 billionexpenditures: $258 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA(2006 est.)
Public debt:14.1% of GDP (2006 est.)
Agriculture - products:wheat, barley, sugarcane, fruits, cattle, sheep, poultry
Industries:mining, industrial and transportation equipment, food processing,chemicals, steel
Industrial production growth rate:-3.5% (2006 est.)
Electricity - production:225.3 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 90.8% hydro: 8.3% nuclear: 0% other: 0.9% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:209.5 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2004)
Oil - production:530,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption:877,300 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports:523,400 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:530,800 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:3.664 billion bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:37.03 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:26.37 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - exports:10.66 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:821.2 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)
Current account balance:$-41.62 billion (2006 est.)
Exports:$117 billion (2006 est.)
Exports - commodities:coal, gold, meat, wool, alumina, iron ore, wheat, machinery andtransport equipment
Exports - partners:Japan 20.3%, China 11.5%, South Korea 7.9%, US 6.7%, NZ 6.5%, India5% (2005)
Imports:$127.7 billion (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and transport equipment, computers and office machines,telecommunication equipment and parts; crude oil and petroleumproducts
Imports - partners:US 13.9%, China 13.7%, Japan 11%, Singapore 5.6%, Germany 5.6%(2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$48.25 billion (2006 est.)
Debt - external:$585.1 billion (30 June 2006 est.)
Economic aid - donor:ODA, $894 million (FY99/00)
Currency (code):Australian dollar (AUD)
Currency code:AUD
Exchange rates:Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.3382 (2006), 1.3095 (2005),1.3598 (2004), 1.5419 (2003), 1.8406 (2002)
Fiscal year:1 July - 30 June
Communications Australia
Telephones - main lines in use:11.46 million (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:18.42 million (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: excellent domestic and international servicedomestic: domestic satellite system; much use of radiotelephone inareas of low population density; rapid growth of mobile cellulartelephonesinternational: country code - 61; submarine cables to New Zealand,Papua New Guinea, and Indonesia; satellite earth stations - 19 (10Intelsat - 4 Indian Ocean and 6 Pacific Ocean, 2 Inmarsat - Indianand Pacific Ocean regions, 2 Globalstar, 5 other) (2005)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 262, FM 345, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:25.5 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:104 (1997)
Televisions:10.15 million (1997)
Internet country code:.au
Internet hosts:7,772,888 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):571 (2002)
Internet users:14,663,622 (2006)
Transportation Australia
Airports: 455 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 311 over 3,047 m: 10 2,438 to 3,047 m: 12 1,524 to 2,437 m: 133 914 to 1,523 m: 143 under 914 m: 13 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 144 1,524 to 2,437 m: 18 914 to 1,523 m: 111 under 914 m: 15 (2006)
Heliports:1 (2006)
Pipelines:condensate/gas 546 km; gas 31,323 km; liquid petroleum gas 240 km;oil 4,808 km; oil/gas/water 110 km (2006)
Railways:total: 47,738 kmbroad gauge: 4,015 km 1.600-m gaugestandard gauge: 28,662 km 1.435-m gauge (1,397 km electrified)narrow gauge: 14,831 km 1.067-m gauge (2,462 km electrified)dual gauge: 230 km dual gauge (2005)
Roadways:total: 810,641 kmpaved: 336,962 kmunpaved: 473,679 km (2004)
Waterways:2,000 km (mainly used for recreation on Murray and Murray-Darlingriver systems) (2002)
Merchant marine:total: 53 ships (1000 GRT or over) 1,361,000 GRT/1,532,874 DWTby type: bulk carrier 17, cargo 4, chemical tanker 3, container 1,liquefied gas 4, passenger 6, passenger/cargo 7, petroleum tanker 6,roll on/roll off 5foreign-owned: 17 (Canada 1, France 3, Germany 3, Japan 1,Netherlands 2, Norway 1, Philippines 1, UK 2, US 3)registered in other countries: 34 (Antigua and Barbuda 1, Bahamas 2,Bermuda 3, Fiji 1, Hong Kong 1, Liberia 2, Marshall Islands 2,Netherlands 1, NZ 2, Panama 3, Portugal 1, Singapore 7, Tonga 1, UK3, US 2, Vanuatu 2) (2006)
Ports and terminals:Brisbane, Dampier, Fremantle, Gladstone, Hay Point, Melbourne,Newcastle, Port Hedland, Port Kembla, Port Walcott, Sydney
Military Australia
Military branches:Australian Defense Force (ADF): Australian Army, Royal AustralianNavy, Royal Australian Air Force, Special Operations Command (2006)
Military service age and obligation:16 years of age for voluntary service; women allowed to serve inArmy combat units in non-combat support roles (2001)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 4,943,676females age 18-49: 4,821,264
Manpower fit for military service:males age 16-49: 4,092,717females age 16-49: 3,983,447 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 142,158females age 16-49: 135,675 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$17.84 billion (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:2.7% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Australia
Disputes - international:East Timor and Australia agreed in 2005 to defer the disputedportion of the boundary for fifty years and to split hydrocarbonrevenues evenly outside the Joint Petroleum Development Area coveredby the 2002 Timor Sea Treaty; East Timor dispute hampers creation ofa revised maritime boundary with Indonesia (see also Ashmore andCartier Islands dispute); regional states express concern overAustralia's 2004 declaration of a 1,000-nautical mile-wide maritimeidentification zone; Australia asserts land and maritime claims toAntarctica (see Antarctica); in 2004 Australia submitted its claimsto UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) toextend its continental margin from both its mainland and Antarcticclaims
Illicit drugs:Tasmania is one of the world's major suppliers of licit opiateproducts; government maintains strict controls over areas of opiumpoppy cultivation and output of poppy straw concentrate
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007
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@Austria
Introduction Austria
Background:Once the center of power for the large Austro-Hungarian Empire,Austria was reduced to a small republic after its defeat in WorldWar I. Following annexation by Nazi Germany in 1938 and subsequentoccupation by the victorious Allies in 1945, Austria's statusremained unclear for a decade. A State Treaty signed in 1955 endedthe occupation, recognized Austria's independence, and forbadeunification with Germany. A constitutional law that same yeardeclared the country's "perpetual neutrality" as a condition forSoviet military withdrawal. The Soviet Union's collapse in 1991 andAustria's entry into the European Union in 1995 have altered themeaning of this neutrality. A prosperous, democratic country,Austria entered the EU Economic Monetary Union in 1999.
Geography Austria
Location:Central Europe, north of Italy and Slovenia
Geographic coordinates:47 20 N, 13 20 E
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 83,870 sq kmland: 82,444 sq kmwater: 1,426 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Maine
Land boundaries:total: 2,562 kmborder countries: Czech Republic 362 km, Germany 784 km, Hungary 366km, Italy 430 km, Liechtenstein 35 km, Slovakia 91 km, Slovenia 330km, Switzerland 164 km
Coastline:0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:none (landlocked)
Climate:temperate; continental, cloudy; cold winters with frequent rain andsome snow in lowlands and snow in mountains; moderate summers withoccasional showers
Terrain:in the west and south mostly mountains (Alps); along the easternand northern margins mostly flat or gently sloping
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Neusiedler See 115 mhighest point: Grossglockner 3,798 m
Natural resources:oil, coal, lignite, timber, iron ore, copper, zinc, antimony,magnesite, tungsten, graphite, salt, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 16.59% permanent crops: 0.85% other: 82.56% (2005)
Irrigated land:40 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:landslides; avalanches; earthquakes
Environment - current issues: some forest degradation caused by air and soil pollution; soil pollution results from the use of agricultural chemicals; air pollution results from emissions by coal- and oil-fired power stations and industrial plants and from trucks transiting Austria between northern and southern Europe
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, AirPollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85,Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, EnvironmentalModification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone LayerProtection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94,Wetlands, Whalingsigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:landlocked; strategic location at the crossroads of central Europewith many easily traversable Alpine passes and valleys; major riveris the Danube; population is concentrated on eastern lowlandsbecause of steep slopes, poor soils, and low temperatures elsewhere
People Austria
Population:8,192,880 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 15.4% (male 645,337/female 614,602)15-64 years: 67.5% (male 2,782,712/female 2,749,620)65 years and over: 17.1% (male 567,752/female 832,857) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 40.9 yearsmale: 39.8 yearsfemale: 42 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:0.09% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:8.74 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:9.76 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:1.94 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: 1.01 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 4.6 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 5.65 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 3.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 79.07 yearsmale: 76.17 yearsfemale: 82.11 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.36 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.3% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:10,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 100 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Austrian(s)adjective: Austrian
Ethnic groups:Austrians 91.1%, former Yugoslavs 4% (includes Croatians, Slovenes,Serbs, and Bosniaks), Turks 1.6%, German 0.9%, other or unspecified2.4% (2001 census)
Religions:Roman Catholic 73.6%, Protestant 4.7%, Muslim 4.2%, other 3.5%,unspecified 2%, none 12% (2001 census)
Languages:German (official nationwide), Slovene (official in Carinthia),Croatian (official in Burgenland), Hungarian (official in Burgenland)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 98%male: NAfemale: NA
Government Austria
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Austriaconventional short form: Austrialocal long form: Republik Oesterreichlocal short form: Oesterreich
Government type:federal republic
Capital:name: Viennageographic coordinates: 48 12 N, 16 22 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
Administrative divisions:9 states (Bundeslaender, singular - Bundesland); Burgenland,Kaernten (Carinthia), Niederoesterreich (Lower Austria),Oberoesterreich (Upper Austria), Salzburg, Steiermark (Styria),Tirol, Vorarlberg, Wien (Vienna)
Independence:976 (Margravate of Austria established); 17 September 1156 (Duchyof Austria founded); 11 August 1804 (Austrian Empire proclaimed); 12November 1918 (republic proclaimed)
National holiday:National Day, 26 October (1955); note - commemorates the passage ofthe law on permanent neutrality
Constitution:1920; revised 1929 (reinstated 1 May 1945)
Legal system:civil law system with Roman law origin; judicial review oflegislative acts by the Constitutional Court; separateadministrative and civil/penal supreme courts; accepts compulsoryICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Heinz FISCHER (since 8 July 2004)head of government: Chancellor Alfred GUSENBAUER (SPOe) (since 11January 2007); Vice Chancellor Wilhelm MOLTERE (OeVP) (since 11January 2007)cabinet: Council of Ministers chosen by the president on the adviceof the chancellorelections: president elected by direct popular vote for a six-yearterm (eligible for a second term); presidential election last held25 April 2004 (next to be held April 2010); chancellor formallychosen by the president but determined by the coalition partiesforming a parliamentary majority; vice chancellor chosen by thepresident on the advice of the chancellorelection results: Heinz FISCHER elected president; percent of vote -Heinz FISCHER (SPOe) 52.4%, Benita FERRERO-WALDNER (OeVP) 47.6%note: government coalition - SPOe and OeVP
Legislative branch:bicameral Federal Assembly or Bundesversammlung consists of FederalCouncil or Bundesrat (62 members; members chosen by stateparliaments with each state receiving 3 to 12 members according toits population; members serve a five- or six-year term) and theNational Council or Nationalrat (183 seats; members elected bydirect popular vote to serve four-year terms)elections: National Council - last held 1 October 2006 (nextscheduled for the fall of 2010)election results: National Council - percent of vote by party - SPOe35.3%, OeVP 34.3%, Greens 11.1%, FPOe 11.0%, BZOe 4.1%; seats byparty - SPOe 68, OeVP 66, Greens 21, FPOe 21, BZOe 7
Judicial branch:Supreme Judicial Court or Oberster Gerichtshof; AdministrativeCourt or Verwaltungsgerichtshof; Constitutional Court orVerfassungsgerichtshof
Political parties and leaders:Alliance for the Future of Austria or BZOe [Peter WESENTHALER];Austrian People's Party or OeVP [Wilhelm MOLTERE]; Freedom Party ofAustria or FPOe [Heinz Christian STRACHE]; Social Democratic Partyof Austria or SPOe [Alfred GUSENBAUER]; The Greens [Alexander VANDER BELLEN]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Austrian Trade Union Federation (nominally independent butprimarily Social Democratic) or OeGB; Federal Economic Chamber;OeVP-oriented Association of Austrian Industrialists or IV; RomanCatholic Church, including its chief lay organization, CatholicAction; three composite leagues of the Austrian People's Party orOeVP representing business, labor, and farmers and othernon-government organizations in the areas of environment and humanrights
International organization participation:ACCT (observer), AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer),CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, IADB, IAEA,IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, NAM(guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE,Paris Club, PCA, PFP, SECI (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO,UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNOMIG, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO,WEU (observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Eva NOWOTNYchancery: 3524 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008-3035telephone: [1] (202) 895-6700FAX: [1] (202) 895-6750consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Susan R. McCAWembassy: Boltzmanngasse 16, A-1090, Viennamailing address: use embassy street addresstelephone: [43] (1) 31339-0FAX: [43] (1) 3100682
Flag description:three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and red
Economy Austria
Economy - overview:Austria, with its well-developed market economy and high standardof living, is closely tied to other EU economies, especiallyGermany's. The Austrian economy also benefits greatly from strongcommercial relations, especially in the banking and insurancesectors, with central, eastern, and southeastern Europe. The economyfeatures a large service sector, a sound industrial sector, and asmall, but highly developed agricultural sector. Membership in theEU has drawn an influx of foreign investors attracted by Austria'saccess to the single European market and proximity to the new EUeconomies. The outgoing government has successfully pursued acomprehensive economic reform program, aimed at streamlininggovernment, creating a more competitive business environment,further strengthening Austria's attractiveness as an investmentlocation, and implementing effective pension reforms; however, lowertaxes in 2005-2006 have lead to a small budget deficit in 2006. Weakdomestic consumption and slow growth in Europe have held the economyto growth rates below 3% in 2002-05. Due to higher growth acrossEurope, Austrian grew 3.3 percent in 2006. To meet increasedcompetition from both EU and Central European countries,particularly the new EU members, Austria will need to continuerestructuring, emphasizing knowledge-based sectors of the economy,and encouraging greater labor flexibility and greater laborparticipation by its aging population.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$279.5 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$309.3 billion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:3.3% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$34,100 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 1.8% industry: 30.4% services: 67.8% (2005 est.)
Labor force: 3.52 million (2006 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 3% industry: 27% services: 70% (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate:4.9% (2006 est.)
Population below poverty line:5.9% (2004)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.3% highest 10%: 22.5% (2004)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:31 (2002)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):1.6% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):21% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget:revenues: $155.9 billionexpenditures: $161.6 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA(2006 est.)
Public debt:63% of GDP (2006 est.)
Agriculture - products:grains, potatoes, sugar beets, wine, fruit; dairy products, cattle,pigs, poultry; lumber
Industries:construction, machinery, vehicles and parts, food, metals,chemicals, lumber and wood processing, paper and paperboard,communications equipment, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:5.7% (2006 est.)
Electricity - production:65.56 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 29.3% hydro: 67.2% nuclear: 0% other: 3.5% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:64.07 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:13.5 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:16.6 billion kWh (2004)
Oil - production:25,360 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - consumption:282,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports:30,140 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - imports:152,600 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - proved reserves:84.3 million bbl (2004)
Natural gas - production:1.963 billion cu m (2004)
Natural gas - consumption:8.981 billion cu m (2004)
Natural gas - exports:1.324 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - imports:8.407 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:15.01 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)
Current account balance:$5.913 billion (2006 est.)
Exports:$144.4 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Exports - commodities:machinery and equipment, motor vehicles and parts, paper andpaperboard, metal goods, chemicals, iron and steel, textiles,foodstuffs
Exports - partners:Germany 31.2%, Italy 8.7%, US 5.8%, Switzerland 5.2%, France 4.2%(2005)
Imports:$138.6 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, metal goods,oil and oil products; foodstuffs
Imports - partners:Germany 45.9%, Italy 6.6%, Switzerland 4.5% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$8.413 billion (August 2006 est.)
Debt - external:$593.9 billion (30 June 2006 est.)
Economic aid - donor:ODA, $681 million (2004)
Currency (code):euro (EUR)note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced theeuro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions ofmember countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the solecurrency for everyday transactions within the member countries
Currency code:EUR
Exchange rates:euros per US dollar - 0.79669 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004),0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Austria
Telephones - main lines in use:3.705 million (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:8.16 million (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: highly developed and efficientdomestic: there are 45 main lines for every 100 persons; the fiberoptic net is very extensive; all telephone applications and Internetservices are availableinternational: country code - 43; satellite earth stations - 15; inaddition, there are about 600 VSAT (very small aperture terminals)(2005)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 2, FM 65 (plus several hundred repeaters), shortwave 1 (2001)
Radios:6.08 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:10 (plus more than 1,000 repeaters) (2001)
Televisions:4.25 million (1997)
Internet country code:.at
Internet hosts:2,062,035 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):37 (2000)
Internet users:4.65 million (2005)
Transportation Austria
Airports: 55 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 25 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 15 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 30 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 26 (2006)
Heliports:1 (2006)
Pipelines:gas 2,722 km; oil 663 km; refined products 149 km (2006)
Railways:total: 6,011 kmstandard gauge: 5,568 km 1.435-m gauge (3,427 km electrified)narrow gauge: 21 km 1.000-m gauge; 422 km 0.760-m gauge (109 kmelectrified) (2005)
Roadways: total: 133,718 km paved: 133,718 km (including 1,677 km of expressways) (2003)
Waterways:358 km (2003)
Merchant marine:total: 8 ships (1000 GRT or over) 34,072 GRT/44,437 DWTby type: cargo 6, container 2foreign-owned: 2 (Netherlands 2)registered in other countries: 14 (Liberia 13, Malta 1) (2006)
Ports and terminals:Enns, Krems, Linz, Vienna
Military Austria
Military branches:Land Forces (KdoLdSK), Air Forces (KdoLuSK)
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for compulsory military service; 16 years of age for voluntary service; from 2007, at the earliest, compulsory military service obligation will be reduced from eight months to six (2005)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 1,914,800females age 18-49: 1,870,134 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 1,550,441females age 18-49: 1,515,365 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 48,967females age 18-49: 46,633 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$1.497 billion (FY01/02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:0.9% (2004)
Transnational Issues Austria
Disputes - international:Austrian anti-nuclear activists have revived blockades of theCzech-Austrian border to protest operation of the Temelin nuclearpower plant in the Czech Republic
Illicit drugs:transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and South Americancocaine destined for Western Europe
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007
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@Azerbaijan
Introduction Azerbaijan
Background:Azerbaijan - a nation with a Turkic and majority-Muslim population- was briefly independent from 1918 to 1920; it regained itsindependence after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Despitea 1994 cease-fire, Azerbaijan has yet to resolve its conflict withArmenia over the Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh enclave (largelyArmenian populated). Azerbaijan has lost 16% of its territory andmust support some 528,000 internally displaced persons as a resultof the conflict. Corruption is ubiquitous, and the promise ofwidespread wealth from Azerbaijan's undeveloped petroleum resourcesremains largely unfulfilled.
Geography Azerbaijan
Location:Southwestern Asia, bordering the Caspian Sea, between Iran andRussia, with a small European portion north of the Caucasus range
Geographic coordinates:40 30 N, 47 30 E
Map references:Asia
Area:total: 86,600 sq kmland: 86,100 sq kmwater: 500 sq kmnote: includes the exclave of Naxcivan Autonomous Republic and theNagorno-Karabakh region; the region's autonomy was abolished byAzerbaijani Supreme Soviet on 26 November 1991
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Maine
Land boundaries:total: 2,013 kmborder countries: Armenia (with Azerbaijan-proper) 566 km, Armenia(with Azerbaijan-Naxcivan exclave) 221 km, Georgia 322 km, Iran(with Azerbaijan-proper) 432 km, Iran (with Azerbaijan-Naxcivanexclave) 179 km, Russia 284 km, Turkey 9 km
Coastline:0 km (landlocked); note - Azerbaijan borders the Caspian Sea (800km est.)
Maritime claims:none (landlocked)
Climate:dry, semiarid steppe
Terrain:large, flat Kur-Araz Ovaligi (Kura-Araks Lowland) (much of it belowsea level) with Great Caucasus Mountains to the north, QarabagYaylasi (Karabakh Upland) in west; Baku lies on Abseron Yasaqligi(Apsheron Peninsula) that juts into Caspian Sea
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caspian Sea -28 m highest point: Bazarduzu Dagi 4,485 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, nonferrous metals, alumina
Land use: arable land: 20.62% permanent crops: 2.61% other: 76.77% (2005)
Irrigated land:14,550 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:droughts
Environment - current issues:local scientists consider the Abseron Yasaqligi (ApsheronPeninsula) (including Baku and Sumqayit) and the Caspian Sea to bethe ecologically most devastated area in the world because of severeair, soil, and water pollution; soil pollution results from oilspills, from the use of DDT as a pesticide, and from toxicdefoliants used in the production of cotton
Environment - international agreements:party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, ClimateChange-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:both the main area of the country and the Naxcivan exclave arelandlocked
People Azerbaijan
Population:7,961,619 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 25.8% (male 1,046,501/female 1,011,492)15-64 years: 66.3% (male 2,573,134/female 2,706,275)65 years and over: 7.8% (male 246,556/female 377,661) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 27.7 yearsmale: 26.3 yearsfemale: 29.2 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:0.66% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:20.74 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:9.75 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:-4.38 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.65 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 79 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 81.08 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 76.81 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 63.85 yearsmale: 59.78 yearsfemale: 68.13 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.46 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:less than 0.1% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:1,400 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:less than 100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:noun: Azerbaijani(s), Azeri(s)adjective: Azerbaijani, Azeri
Ethnic groups:Azeri 90.6%, Dagestani 2.2%, Russian 1.8%, Armenian 1.5%, other3.9% (1999 census)note: almost all Armenians live in the separatist Nagorno-Karabakhregion
Religions:Muslim 93.4%, Russian Orthodox 2.5%, Armenian Orthodox 2.3%, other1.8% (1995 est.)note: religious affiliation is still nominal in Azerbaijan;percentages for actual practicing adherents are much lower
Languages:Azerbaijani (Azeri) 89%, Russian 3%, Armenian 2%, other 6% (1995est.)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 98.8%male: 99.5%female: 98.2% (2003 est.)
Government Azerbaijan
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Azerbaijanconventional short form: Azerbaijanlocal long form: Azarbaycan Respublikasilocal short form: Azarbaycanformer: Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic
Government type:republic
Capital:name: Baku (Baki, Baky)geographic coordinates: 40 23 N, 49 51 Etime difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends lastSunday in October
Administrative divisions:59 rayons (rayonlar; rayon - singular), 11 cities (saharlar; sahar- singular), 1 autonomous republic (muxtar respublika)rayons: Abseron Rayonu, Agcabadi Rayonu, Agdam Rayonu, Agdas Rayonu,Agstafa Rayonu, Agsu Rayonu, Astara Rayonu, Balakan Rayonu, BardaRayonu, Beylaqan Rayonu, Bilasuvar Rayonu, Cabrayil Rayonu,Calilabad Rayonu, Daskasan Rayonu, Davaci Rayonu, Fuzuli Rayonu,Gadabay Rayonu, Goranboy Rayonu, Goycay Rayonu, Haciqabul Rayonu,Imisli Rayonu, Ismayilli Rayonu, Kalbacar Rayonu, Kurdamir Rayonu,Lacin Rayonu, Lankaran Rayonu, Lerik Rayonu, Masalli Rayonu,Neftcala Rayonu, Oguz Rayonu, Qabala Rayonu, Qax Rayonu, QazaxRayonu, Qobustan Rayonu, Quba Rayonu, Qubadli Rayonu, Qusar Rayonu,Saatli Rayonu, Sabirabad Rayonu, Saki Rayonu, Salyan Rayonu, SamaxiRayonu, Samkir Rayonu, Samux Rayonu, Siyazan Rayonu, Susa Rayonu,Tartar Rayonu, Tovuz Rayonu, Ucar Rayonu, Xacmaz Rayonu, XanlarRayonu, Xizi Rayonu, Xocali Rayonu, Xocavand Rayonu, YardimliRayonu, Yevlax Rayonu, Zangilan Rayonu, Zaqatala Rayonu, ZardabRayonucities: Ali Bayramli Sahari, Baki Sahari, Ganca Sahari, LankaranSahari, Mingacevir Sahari, Naftalan Sahari, Saki Sahari, SumqayitSahari, Susa Sahari, Xankandi Sahari, Yevlax Sahariautonomous republic: Naxcivan Muxtar Respublikasi
Independence:30 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday:Founding of the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan, 28 May (1918)
Constitution:adopted 12 November 1995
Legal system:based on civil law system
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Ilham ALIYEV (since 31 October 2003)head of government: Prime Minister Artur RASIZADE (since 4 November2003); First Deputy Prime Minister Abbas ABBASOV (since 10 November2003)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president andconfirmed by the National Assemblyelections: president elected by popular vote to a five-year term(eligible for a second term); election last held 15 October 2003(next to be held October 2008); prime minister and first deputyprime ministers appointed by the president and confirmed by theNational Assemblyelection results: Ilham ALIYEV elected president; percent of vote -Ilham ALIYEV 76.8%, Isa GAMBAR 14%
Legislative branch:unicameral National Assembly or Milli Mejlis (125 seats; memberselected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)elections: last held 6 November 2005 (next to be held in November2010)election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -Yeni 58, Azadliq coalition 8, CSP 2, YES 2, Motherland 2, otherparties with single seats 7, independents 42, undetermined 4
Judicial branch:Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:Azerbaijan Popular Front or APF [Ali KARIMLI, leader of "Reform"faction; Mirmahmud MIRALI-OGLU, leader of "Classic" faction]; CivicSolidarity Party or CSP [Sabir RUSTAMKHANLY]; Civic Union Party[Ayaz MUTALIBOV]; Communist Party of Azerbaijan or CPA [RamizAHMADOV]; Compatriot Party [Mais SAFARLI]; Democratic Party forAzerbaijan or DPA [Rasul QULIYEV, chairman]; Justice Party [IlyasISMAILOV]; Liberal Party of Azerbaijan [Lala Shovkat HACIYEVA];Motherland Party; Musavat [Isa GAMBAR, chairman]; Yeni AzerbaijanParty; Party for National Independence of Azerbaijan or PNIA [EtibarMAMMADLI, chairman]; Social Democratic Party of Azerbaijan or SDP[Araz ALIZADE]note: opposition parties regularly factionalize and form new parties
Political pressure groups and leaders:Sadval, Lezgin movement; self-proclaimed Armenian Nagorno-KarabakhRepublic; Talysh independence movement; Union of Pro-AzerbaijaniForces (UPAF); Karabakh Liberation Organization
International organization participation:AsDB, BSEC, CE, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, GCTU, GUAM, IAEA, IBRD,ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM (observer), OAS (observer),OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SECI (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Hafiv Mir Jalal PASHAYEVchancery: 2741 34th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone: [1] (202) 337-3500FAX: [1] (202) 337-5911Consulate(s) general: Los Angeles
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Anne E. DERSE embassy: 83 Azadliyg Prospecti, Baku AZ1007 mailing address: American Embassy Baku, US Department of State, 7050 Baku Place, Washington, DC 20521-7050 telephone: [994] (12) 4980-335 through 337 FAX: [994] (12) 4656-671
Flag description:three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), red, and green; acrescent and eight-pointed star in white are centered in red band
Economy Azerbaijan
Economy - overview:Azerbaijan's number one export is oil. Azerbaijan's oil productiondeclined through 1997, but has registered an increase every yearsince. Negotiation of production-sharing arrangements (PSAs) withforeign firms, which have thus far committed $60 billion tolong-term oilfield development, should generate the funds needed tospur future industrial development. Oil production under the firstof these PSAs, with the Azerbaijan International Operating Company,began in November 1997. A consortium of Western oil companies beganpumping 1 million barrels a day from a large offshore field in early2006, through a $4 billion pipeline it built from Baku to Turkey'sMediterranean port of Ceyhan. Economists estimate that by 2010revenues from this project will double the country's current GDP.Azerbaijan shares all the formidable problems of the former Sovietrepublics in making the transition from a command to a marketeconomy, but its considerable energy resources brighten itslong-term prospects. Baku has only recently begun making progress oneconomic reform, and old economic ties and structures are slowlybeing replaced. Several other obstacles impede Azerbaijan's economicprogress: the need for stepped up foreign investment in thenon-energy sector, the continuing conflict with Armenia over theNagorno-Karabakh region, and the pervasive corruption. Trade withRussia and the other former Soviet republics is declining inimportance while trade is building with Turkey and the nations ofEurope. Long-term prospects will depend on world oil prices, thelocation of new pipelines in the region, and Azerbaijan's ability tomanage its oil wealth.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$58.1 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$14.05 billion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:32.5% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$7,300 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 14.1% industry: 45.7% services: 40.2% (2002 est.)
Labor force: 5.191 million (2006 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 41% industry: 7% services: 52% (2001)
Unemployment rate:1.2% official rate (2006 est.)
Population below poverty line:49% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.8% highest 10%: 27.8% (1995)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:36.5 (2001)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):8% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):44.9% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget:revenues: $6.008 billionexpenditures: $5.804 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA(2006 est.)
Public debt:10.4% of GDP (2006 est.)
Agriculture - products:cotton, grain, rice, grapes, fruit, vegetables, tea, tobacco;cattle, pigs, sheep, goats
Industries:petroleum and natural gas, petroleum products, oilfield equipment;steel, iron ore; cement; chemicals and petrochemicals; textiles
Industrial production growth rate:50% (2006 est.)
Electricity - production:20.35 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 89.7% hydro: 10.3% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:20.57 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:510 million kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:2.15 billion kWh (2004)
Oil - production:477,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption:120,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports:NA bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:NA bbl/day (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:589 million bbl (1 January 2002)
Natural gas - production:5.01 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:9.94 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - imports:4.93 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:849.5 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)
Current account balance:$2.737 billion (2006 est.)
Exports:$12.51 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Exports - commodities:oil and gas 90%, machinery, cotton, foodstuffs
Exports - partners:Italy 30.3%, France 9.4%, Russia 6.6%, Turkey 6.3%, Turkmenistan6.3%, Georgia 4.8%, Israel 4.5%, Croatia 4.1% (2005)
Imports:$5.176 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment, oil products, foodstuffs, metals, chemicals
Imports - partners:Russia 17%, UK 9.1%, Singapore 9.1%, Turkey 7.4%, Germany 6.1%,Turkmenistan 5.8%, Ukraine 5.4%, China 4.1% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$1.8 billion (2006 est.)
Debt - external:$2.483 billion (2006 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:ODA, $140 million (2000 est.)
Currency (code):Azerbaijani manat (AZM)
Currency code:AZM
Exchange rates:Azerbaijani manats per US dollar - 0.89131 (2006), 4,727.1 (2005),4,913.48 (2004), 4,910.73 (2003), 4,860.82 (2002)note: on 1 January 2006 Azerbaijan revalued its currency, with 5,000old manats equal to 1 new manat
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Azerbaijan
Telephones - main lines in use:1,091,400 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:2.242 million (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: inadequate; requires considerable expansion andmodernization; teledensity of 14 main lines per 100 persons is low(2002)domestic: the majority of telephones are in Baku and otherindustrial centers - about 700 villages still without publictelephone service; satellite service connects Baku to a modernswitch in its exclave of Naxcivaninternational: country code - 994; the old Soviet system of cableand microwave is still serviceable; satellite earth stations - 2(2005)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 10, FM 17, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:175,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:2 (1997)
Televisions:170,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.az
Internet hosts:880 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):2 (2000)
Internet users:678,800 (2005)
Transportation Azerbaijan
Airports: 36 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 27 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 13 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 2 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 9914 to 1,523 m: 2under 914 m: 7 (2006)
Heliports:1 (2006)
Pipelines:gas 3,190 km; oil 2,436 km (2006)
Railways: total: 2,957 km broad gauge: 2,957 km 1.520-m gauge (1,278 km electrified) (2005)
Roadways: total: 59,141 km paved: 29,210 km unpaved: 29,931 km (2004)
Merchant marine:total: 84 ships (1000 GRT or over) 405,395 GRT/436,666 DWTby type: cargo 26, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 8, petroleum tanker43, roll on/roll off 2, specialized tanker 3registered in other countries: 4 (Georgia 2, Malta 2) (2006)
Ports and terminals:Baku (Baki)
Military Azerbaijan
Military branches:Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces
Military service age and obligation: men between 18 and 35 are liable for military service; 18 years of age for voluntary military service; length of military service is 18 months and 12 months for university graduates (2006)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 1,961,973females age 18-49: 2,033,186 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 1,314,955females age 18-49: 1,676,408 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 82,358females age 18-49: 78,067 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$121 million (FY99)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:2.6% (FY99)
Transnational Issues Azerbaijan
Disputes - international:Armenia supports ethnic Armenian secessionists in Nagorno-Karabakhand since the early 1990s has militarily occupied 16% of Azerbaijan;over 800,000 mostly ethnic Azerbaijanis were driven from theoccupied lands and Armenia; about 230,000 ethnic Armenians weredriven from their homes in Azerbaijan into Armenia; Azerbaijan seekstransit route through Armenia to connect to Naxcivan exclave;Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) continuesto mediate dispute; Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Russia ratifyCaspian seabed delimitation treaties based on equidistance, whileIran continues to insist on an even one-fifth allocation andchallenges Azerbaijan's hydrocarbon exploration in disputed waters;bilateral talks continue with Turkmenistan on dividing the seabedand contested oilfields in the middle of the Caspian; Azerbaijan andGeorgia continue to discuss the alignment of their boundary atcertain crossing areas
Refugees and internally displaced persons:refugees (country of origin): 2,800 (Russia)IDPs: 580,000-690,000 (conflict with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh)(2006)
Illicit drugs:limited illicit cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy, mostly forCIS consumption; small government eradication program; transit pointfor Southwest Asian opiates bound for Russia and to a lesser extentthe rest of Europe
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007
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@Bahamas, The
Introduction Bahamas, The
Background:Lucayan Indians inhabited the islands when Christopher Columbusfirst set foot in the New World on San Salvador in 1492. Britishsettlement of the islands began in 1647; the islands became a colonyin 1783. Since attaining independence from the UK in 1973, TheBahamas have prospered through tourism and international banking andinvestment management. Because of its geography, the country is amajor transshipment point for illegal drugs, particularly shipmentsto the US, and its territory is used for smuggling illegal migrantsinto the US.
Geography Bahamas, The
Location:Caribbean, chain of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeastof Florida, northeast of Cuba
Geographic coordinates:24 15 N, 76 00 W
Map references:Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total: 13,940 sq kmland: 10,070 sq kmwater: 3,870 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Connecticut
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:3,542 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:tropical marine; moderated by warm waters of Gulf Stream
Terrain:long, flat coral formations with some low rounded hills
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Alvernia, on Cat Island 63 m
Natural resources: salt, aragonite, timber, arable land
Land use: arable land: 0.58% permanent crops: 0.29% other: 99.13% (2005)
Irrigated land:10 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:hurricanes and other tropical storms cause extensive flood and winddamage
Environment - current issues:coral reef decay; solid waste disposal
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Lawof the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:strategic location adjacent to US and Cuba; extensive island chainof which 30 are inhabited
People Bahamas, The
Population:303,770note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account theeffects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lowerlife expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lowerpopulation and growth rates, and changes in the distribution ofpopulation by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 27.5% (male 41,799/female 41,733)15-64 years: 66.1% (male 98,847/female 102,074)65 years and over: 6.4% (male 7,891/female 11,426) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 27.8 yearsmale: 27.1 yearsfemale: 28.6 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:0.64% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:17.57 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:9.05 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:-2.17 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.02 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 24.68 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 30.29 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 18.96 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 65.6 yearsmale: 62.24 yearsfemale: 69.03 years (2006 est.)