Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACCT, ACP, AsDB, C, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS,ILO, IMF, IMO, IOC, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca,SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOCI, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO(observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:Vanuatu does not have an embassy in the US; it does, however, havea Permanent Mission to the UN
Diplomatic representation from the US:the US does not have an embassy in Vanuatu; the ambassador to PapuaNew Guinea is accredited to Vanuatu
Flag description:two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a blackisosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) all separated by ablack-edged yellow stripe in the shape of a horizontal Y (the twopoints of the Y face the hoist side and enclose the triangle);centered in the triangle is a boar's tusk encircling two crossednamele leaves, all in yellow
Economy Vanuatu
Economy - overview:This South Pacific island economy is based primarily on small-scaleagriculture, which provides a living for 65% of the population.Fishing, offshore financial services, and tourism, with more than60,000 visitors in 2005, are other mainstays of the economy. Mineraldeposits are negligible; the country has no known petroleumdeposits. A small light industry sector caters to the local market.Tax revenues come mainly from import duties. Economic development ishindered by dependence on relatively few commodity exports,vulnerability to natural disasters, and long distances from mainmarkets and between constituent islands. GDP growth rose less than3% on average in the 1990s. In response to foreign concerns, thegovernment has promised to tighten regulation of its offshorefinancial center. In mid-2002 the government stepped up efforts toboost tourism through improved air connections, resort development,and cruise ship facilities. Agriculture, especially livestockfarming, is a second target for growth. Australia and New Zealandare the main suppliers of tourists and foreign aid.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$276.3 million (2003 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$341 million (2005)
GDP - real growth rate:6.8% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$2,900 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 26% industry: 12% services: 62% (2000 est.)
Labor force: 76,410 (1999)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 65% industry: 5% services: 30% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:1.7% (1999)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):-1.6% (2005 est.)
Budget:revenues: $78.7 millionexpenditures: $72.23 million (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products:copra, coconuts, cocoa, coffee, taro, yams, fruits, vegetables;beef; fish
Industries:food and fish freezing, wood processing, meat canning
Industrial production growth rate:1% (1997 est.)
Electricity - production:43 million kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:39.99 million kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2004)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:620 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports:NA bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:NA bbl/day (2001)
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Current account balance:$-28.35 million (2003)
Exports:$34.11 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:copra, beef, cocoa, timber, kava, coffee
Exports - partners:Thailand 46.5%, India 14.1%, Poland 7.9%, Turkey 7.7%, Japan 6.9%(2005)
Imports:$117.1 million c.i.f. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, fuels
Imports - partners:Australia 18.4%, Japan 16.7%, Singapore 14.7%, Poland 8.5%, NZ7.2%, Fiji 6.3% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$40.54 million (2003)
Debt - external:$81.2 million (2004)
Economic aid - recipient:$37.8 million (2004)
Currency (code):vatu (VUV)
Currency code:VUV
Exchange rates:vatu per US dollar - NA (2005), 111.79 (2004), 122.19 (2003), 139.2(2002)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Vanuatu
Telephones - main lines in use:6,800 (2004)
Telephones - mobile cellular:12,700 (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: NAdomestic: NAinternational: country code - 678; satellite earth station - 1Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 2, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2004)
Radios:67,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:1 (2004)
Televisions:2,300 (1999)
Internet country code:.vu
Internet hosts:413 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2000)
Internet users:7,500 (2004)
Transportation Vanuatu
Airports:31 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 32,438 to 3,047 m: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 1914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 28914 to 1,523 m: 10under 914 m: 18 (2006)
Roadways:total: 1,070 kmpaved: 256 kmunpaved: 814 km (1999)
Merchant marine:total: 51 ships (1000 GRT or over) 1,340,132 GRT/1,908,687 DWTby type: bulk carrier 29, cargo 8, container 1, liquefied gas 2,petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 3, roll on/roll off 2,vehicle carrier 5foreign-owned: 51 (Australia 2, Canada 5, Denmark 6, Estonia 1,Japan 28, Poland 5, Russia 1, Switzerland 2, US 1) (2006)
Ports and terminals:Forari, Port-Vila, Santo (Espiritu Santo)
Military Vanuatu
Military branches:no regular military forces; security forces comprise the VanuatuPolice Force (VPF) and paramilitary Vanuatu Mobile Force (VMF),which includes Vanuatu's naval force, known as the Police MaritimeWing (PMW); border security in Vanuatu is the joint responsibilityof the Customs and Inland Revenue Service, VPF, VMF, and PMW (2003)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 50,221 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 33,837 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:NA
Transnational Issues Vanuatu
Disputes - international: Matthew and Hunter Islands east of New Caledonia claimed by Vanuatu and France
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007
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@Venezuela
Introduction Venezuela
Background:Venezuela was one of three countries that emerged from the collapseof Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others being Ecuador and New Granada,which became Colombia). For most of the first half of the 20thcentury, Venezuela was ruled by generally benevolent militarystrongmen, who promoted the oil industry and allowed for some socialreforms. Democratically elected governments have held sway since1959. Hugo CHAVEZ, president since 1999, has promoted acontroversial policy of "democratic socialism," which purports toalleviate social ills while at the same time attacking globalizationand undermining regional stability. Current concerns include: aweakening of democratic institutions, political polarization, apoliticized military, drug-related violence along the Colombianborder, increasing internal drug consumption, overdependence on thepetroleum industry with its price fluctuations, and irresponsiblemining operations that are endangering the rain forest andindigenous peoples.
Geography Venezuela
Location:Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the NorthAtlantic Ocean, between Colombia and Guyana
Geographic coordinates:8 00 N, 66 00 W
Map references:South America
Area:total: 912,050 sq kmland: 882,050 sq kmwater: 30,000 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly more than twice the size of California
Land boundaries: total: 4,993 km border countries: Brazil 2,200 km, Colombia 2,050 km, Guyana 743 km
Coastline: 2,800 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 15 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands
Terrain:Andes Mountains and Maracaibo Lowlands in northwest; central plains(llanos); Guiana Highlands in southeast
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 mhighest point: Pico Bolivar (La Columna) 5,007 m
Natural resources:petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, bauxite, other minerals,hydropower, diamonds
Land use: arable land: 2.85% permanent crops: 0.88% other: 96.27% (2005)
Irrigated land:5,750 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:subject to floods, rockslides, mudslides; periodic droughts
Environment - current issues: sewage pollution of Lago de Valencia; oil and urban pollution of Lago de Maracaibo; deforestation; soil degradation; urban and industrial pollution, especially along the Caribbean coast; threat to the rainforest ecosystem from irresponsible mining operations
Environment - international agreements: party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed but not ratified:: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:on major sea and air routes linking North and South America; AngelFalls in the Guiana Highlands is the world's highest waterfall
People Venezuela
Population:25,730,435 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 29.1% (male 3,860,116/female 3,620,440)15-64 years: 65.7% (male 8,494,944/female 8,410,874)65 years and over: 5.2% (male 609,101/female 734,960) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 26 yearsmale: 25.4 yearsfemale: 26.6 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:1.38% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:18.71 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:4.92 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.08 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 21.54 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 24.58 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 18.27 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 74.54 yearsmale: 71.49 yearsfemale: 77.81 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.23 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.7% - note - no country specific models provided (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:110,000 (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:4,100 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Venezuelan(s)adjective: Venezuelan
Ethnic groups:Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Arab, German, African, indigenouspeople
Religions:nominally Roman Catholic 96%, Protestant 2%, other 2%
Languages:Spanish (official), numerous indigenous dialects
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 93.4%male: 93.8%female: 93.1% (2003 est.)
Government Venezuela
Country name:conventional long form: Bolivarian Republic of Venezuelaconventional short form: Venezuelalocal long form: Republica Bolivariana de Venezuelalocal short form: Venezuela
Government type:federal republic
Capital:name: Caracasgeographic coordinates: 10 30 N, 66 56 Wtime difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)
Administrative divisions:23 states (estados, singular - estado), 1 capital district*(distrito capital), and 1 federal dependency** (dependenciafederal); Amazonas, Anzoategui, Apure, Aragua, Barinas, Bolivar,Carabobo, Cojedes, Delta Amacuro, Dependencias Federales**, DistritoFederal*, Falcon, Guarico, Lara, Merida, Miranda, Monagas, NuevaEsparta, Portuguesa, Sucre, Tachira, Trujillo, Vargas, Yaracuy, Zulianote: the federal dependency consists of 11 federally controlledisland groups with a total of 72 individual islands
Independence:5 July 1811 (from Spain)
National holiday:Independence Day, 5 July (1811)
Constitution:30 December 1999
Legal system:open, adversarial court system
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Hugo CHAVEZ Frias (since 3 February1999); Vice President Jorge RODRIGUEZ Gomez (since 3 January 2007);note - the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernmenthead of government: President Hugo CHAVEZ Frias (since 3 February1999); Vice President Jorge RODRIGUEZ Gomez (since 3 January 2007)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the presidentelections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term(eligible for a second term); election last held 3 December 2006(next to be held December 2012)note: in 1999, a National Constituent Assembly drafted a newconstitution that increased the presidential term to six years; anelection was subsequently held on 30 July 2000 under the terms ofthis new constitutionelection results: Hugo CHAVEZ Frias reelected president; percent ofvote - Hugo CHAVEZ Frias 62.9%, Manuel ROSALES 36.9%
Legislative branch:unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (167 seats;members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms; threeseats reserved for the indigenous peoples of Venezuela)elections: last held 4 December 2005 (next to be held in 2010)election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -pro-government 167 (MVR 114, PODEMOS 15, PPT 11, indigenous 2, other25), opposition 0
Judicial branch:Supreme Tribunal of Justice or Tribuna Suprema de Justicia(magistrates are elected by the National Assembly for a single12-year term)
Political parties and leaders:A New Time or UNT [Manuel ROSALES]; Christian Democrats or COPEI[Cesar PEREZ Vivas]; Democratic Action or AD [Henry RAMOS Allup];Fatherland for All or PPT [Jose ALBORNOZ]; Fifth Republic Movementor MVR [Hugo CHAVEZ]; Justice First [Julio BORGES]; Movement TowardSocialism or MAS [Hector MUJICA]; Venezuela Project or PV [HenriqueSALAS Romer]; We Can or PODEMOS [Ismael GARCIA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:FEDECAMARAS, a conservative business group; VECINOS groups;Venezuelan Confederation of Workers or CTV (labor organizationdominated by the Democratic Action)
International organization participation:CAN, CDB, CSN, FAO, G-3, G-15, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MIGA, NAM, OAS,OPANAL, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Bernardo ALVAREZ Herrerachancery: 1099 30th Street NW, Washington, DC 20007telephone: [1] (202) 342-2214FAX: [1] (202) 342-6820consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami, New Orleans,New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico)
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador William R. BROWNFIELDembassy: Calle F con Calle Suapure, Urbanizacion Colinas de ValleArriba, Caracas 1080mailing address: P. O. Box 62291, Caracas 1060-A; APO AA 34037telephone: [58] (212) 975-9234, 975-6411FAX: [58] (212) 975-8991
Flag description:three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), blue, and red withthe coat of arms on the hoist side of the yellow band and an arc ofeight white five-pointed stars centered in the blue band
Economy Venezuela
Economy - overview:Venezuela remains highly dependent on oil revenues, which accountfor roughly 90% of export earnings, more than 50% of the federalbudget revenues, and around 30% of GDP. Tax collection-Venezuela'sprimary source of non-oil revenue-is expected to surpass $23 billionin 2006, exceeding the yearend collection goal by more than 20%. Anationwide strike between December 2002 and February 2003 hadfar-reaching economic consequences - real GDP declined by around 9%in 2002 and 8% in 2003 - but economic output since then hasrecovered strongly. Fueled by higher oil prices, record governmentspending helped to boost GDP growth in 2004 and 2005 toapproximately 18% and 11%, respectively. Economic growth in 2006reached around 9%. This spending, combined with recent minimum wagehikes and improved access to domestic credit, has fueled aconsumption boom - car sales in 2006 increased by around 70% - buthas come at the cost of higher inflation. Despite governmentattempts to withdraw liquidity from the economy, Venezuela's moneysupply set a record in June 2006, approximately 70% higher than theprevious year. Imports have also jumped significantly.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$176.4 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$147.9 billion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:8.8% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$6,900 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 3.7% industry: 41% services: 55.3% (2006 est.)
Labor force: 12.5 million (November 2006 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 13% industry: 23% services: 64% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate:8.9% (October 2006 est.)
Population below poverty line:37.9% (End 2005 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 0.8% highest 10%: 36.5% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:49.1 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):15.8% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):19.8% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget:revenues: $52.24 billionexpenditures: $52.9 billion; including capital expenditures of $2.6billion (2006 est.)
Public debt:28.4% of GDP (2006 est.)
Agriculture - products:corn, sorghum, sugarcane, rice, bananas, vegetables, coffee; beef,pork, milk, eggs; fish
Industries:petroleum, construction materials, food processing, textiles; ironore mining, steel, aluminum; motor vehicle assembly
Industrial production growth rate:7% (2006 est.)
Electricity - production:93.03 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 31.7% hydro: 68.3% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:86.52 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2004)
Oil - production:3.081 million bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption:560,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports:2.1 million bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - imports:NA bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - proved reserves:75.27 billion bbl (2006 est.)
Natural gas - production:27.2 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:27.2 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:4.276 trillion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)
Current account balance:$31.82 billion (2006 est.)
Exports:$69.23 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Exports - commodities:petroleum, bauxite and aluminum, steel, chemicals, agriculturalproducts, basic manufactures
Exports - partners:US 50.9%, Netherlands Antilles 7.2%, Canada 2.4% (2005)
Imports:$28.81 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities:raw materials, machinery and equipment, transport equipment,construction materials
Imports - partners:US 31.6%, Colombia 11%, Brazil 9.1%, Mexico 6.9% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$35.95 billion (2006 est.)
Debt - external:$35.63 billion (2006 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$74 million (2000)
Currency (code):bolivar (VEB)
Currency code:VEB
Exchange rates:bolivares per US dollar - 2,147 (2006), 2,089.8 (2005), 1,891.3(2004), 1,607 (2003), 1,161 (2002)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Venezuela
Telephones - main lines in use:3,605,500 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:12.496 million (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: modern and expandingdomestic: domestic satellite system with 3 earth stations; recentsubstantial improvement in telephone service in rural areas;substantial increase in digitalization of exchanges and trunk lines;installation of a national interurban fiber-optic network capable ofdigital multimedia servicesinternational: country code - 58; 3 submarine coaxial cables;satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1PanAmSat; participating with Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia inthe construction of an international fiber-optic network
Radio broadcast stations:AM 201, FM NA (20 in Caracas), shortwave 11 (1998)
Radios:10.75 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:66 (plus 45 repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:4.1 million (1997)
Internet country code:.ve
Internet hosts:51,968 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):16 (2000)
Internet users:3.04 million (2005)
Transportation Venezuela
Airports: 375 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 129 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 11 1,524 to 2,437 m: 34 914 to 1,523 m: 60 under 914 m: 19 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 246 1,524 to 2,437 m: 9 914 to 1,523 m: 90 under 914 m: 147 (2006)
Heliports:1 (2006)
Pipelines:extra heavy crude 992 km; gas 5,369 km; oil 7,607 km; refinedproducts 1,681 km; unknown (oil/water) 141 km (2006)
Railways:total: 682 kmstandard gauge: 682 km 1.435-m gauge (2005)
Roadways:total: 96,155 kmpaved: 32,308 kmunpaved: 63,847 km (1999)
Waterways:7,100 kmnote: Orinoco River and Lake de Maracaibo navigable by oceangoingvessels, Orinoco for 400 km (2005)
Merchant marine:total: 56 ships (1000 GRT or over) 824,941 GRT/1,327,924 DWTby type: bulk carrier 7, cargo 10, chemical tanker 2, container 1,liquefied gas 6, passenger/cargo 12, petroleum tanker 18foreign-owned: 13 (Denmark 3, Greece 3, India 1, Mexico 3, Panama 1,Russia 1, Spain 1)registered in other countries: 15 (Bahamas 1, Panama 14) (2006)
Ports and terminals:Amuay, La Guaira, Maracaibo, Puerto Cabello, Punta Cardon
Military Venezuela
Military branches:National Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas Nacionales or FAN): GroundForces or Army (Fuerzas Terrestres or Ejercito), Naval Forces(Fuerzas Navales or Armada; includes Marines, Coast Guard), AirForce (Fuerzas Aereas or Aviacion), Armed Forces of Cooperation orNational Guard (Fuerzas Armadas de Cooperacion or Guardia Nacional)
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service;conscript service obligation - 30 months (2004)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 6,236,012females age 18-49: 6,137,622 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 4,907,947females age 18-49: 5,151,843 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 252,396females age 18-49: 237,300 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$1.61 billion (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:1.2% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Venezuela
Disputes - international:claims all of the area west of the Essequibo River in Guyana,preventing any discussion of a maritime boundary; Guyana hasexpressed its intention to join Barbados in asserting claims beforethe United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) thatTrinidad and Tobago's maritime boundary with Venezuela extends intotheir waters; dispute with Colombia over maritime boundary andVenezuelan-administered Los Monjes islands near the Gulf ofVenezuela; Colombian-organized illegal narcotics and paramilitaryactivities penetrate Venezuela's shared border region; in 2006, anestimated 139,000 Colombians seek protection in 150 communitiesalong the border in Venezuela; US, France, and the Netherlandsrecognize Venezuela's granting full effect to Aves Island, therebyclaiming a Venezuelan EEZ/continental shelf extending over a largeportion of the eastern Caribbean Sea; Dominica, Saint Kitts andNevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines protestVenezuela's full effect claim
Trafficking in persons:current situation: Venezuela is a source, transit, and destinationcountry for women and children trafficked for the purposes of sexualexploitation and forced labor; women and children from Colombia,China, Peru, Ecuador, and the Dominican Republic are trafficked toand through Venezuela and subjected to commercial sexualexploitation or forced labor; Venezuelans are trafficked internallyand to Western Europe, particularly Spain and the Netherlands, andto countries in the Caribbean region for commercial sexualexploitation; Venezuela is a transit country for illegal migrantsfrom other countries in the region and for Asian nationals, some arebelieved to be trafficking victimstier rating: Tier 3 - Venezuela does not fully comply with theminimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is notmaking significant efforts to do so
Illicit drugs:small-scale illicit producer of opium and coca for the processingof opiates and coca derivatives; however, large quantities ofcocaine, heroin, and marijuana transit the country from Colombiabound for US and Europe; significant narcotics-relatedmoney-laundering activity, especially along the border with Colombiaand on Margarita Island; active eradication program primarilytargeting opium; increasing signs of drug-related activities byColombian insurgents on border
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007
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@Vietnam
Introduction Vietnam
Background:The conquest of Vietnam by France began in 1858 and was completedby 1884. It became part of French Indochina in 1887. Vietnamdeclared independence after World War II, but France continued torule until its 1954 defeat by Communist forces under Ho Chi MINH.Under the Geneva Accords of 1954, Vietnam was divided into theCommunist North and anti-Communist South. US economic and militaryaid to South Vietnam grew through the 1960s in an attempt to bolsterthe government, but US armed forces were withdrawn following acease-fire agreement in 1973. Two years later, North Vietnameseforces overran the South reuniting the country under Communist rule.Despite the return of peace, for over a decade the countryexperienced little economic growth because of conservativeleadership policies. However, since the enactment of Vietnam's "doimoi" (renovation) policy in 1986, Vietnamese authorities havecommitted to increased economic liberalization and enactedstructural reforms needed to modernize the economy and to producemore competitive, export-driven industries. The country continues toexperience protests from various groups - such as the ProtestantMontagnard ethnic minority population of the Central Highlands andthe Hoa Hao Buddhists in southern Vietnam over religiouspersecution. Montagnard grievances also include the loss of land toVietnamese settlers.
Geography Vietnam
Location:Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, Gulf of Tonkin,and South China Sea, alongside China, Laos, and Cambodia
Geographic coordinates:16 00 N, 106 00 E
Map references:Southeast Asia
Area:total: 329,560 sq kmland: 325,360 sq kmwater: 4,200 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly larger than New Mexico
Land boundaries: total: 4,639 km border countries: Cambodia 1,228 km, China 1,281 km, Laos 2,130 km
Coastline: 3,444 km (excludes islands)
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate:tropical in south; monsoonal in north with hot, rainy season (Mayto September) and warm, dry season (October to March)
Terrain:low, flat delta in south and north; central highlands; hilly,mountainous in far north and northwest
Elevation extremes:lowest point: South China Sea 0 mhighest point: Fan Si Pan 3,144 m
Natural resources:phosphates, coal, manganese, bauxite, chromate, offshore oil andgas deposits, forests, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 20.14% permanent crops: 6.93% other: 72.93% (2005)
Irrigated land:30,000 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:occasional typhoons (May to January) with extensive flooding,especially in the Mekong River delta
Environment - current issues:logging and slash-and-burn agricultural practices contribute todeforestation and soil degradation; water pollution and overfishingthreaten marine life populations; groundwater contamination limitspotable water supply; growing urban industrialization and populationmigration are rapidly degrading environment in Hanoi and Ho Chi MinhCity
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, EnvironmentalModification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone LayerProtection, Ship Pollution, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:extending 1,650 km north to south, the country is only 50 km acrossat its narrowest point
People Vietnam
Population:84,402,966 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 27% (male 11,826,457/female 10,983,069)15-64 years: 67.1% (male 28,055,941/female 28,614,553)65 years and over: 5.8% (male 1,924,562/female 2,998,384) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 25.9 yearsmale: 24.8 yearsfemale: 27.1 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:1.02% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:16.86 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:6.22 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:-0.42 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.07 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 25.14 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 25.54 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 24.72 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 70.85 yearsmale: 68.05 yearsfemale: 73.85 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.91 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.4% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:220,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:9,000 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:degree of risk: highfood or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, andtyphoid fevervectorborne diseases: dengue fever, malaria, Japanese encephalitis,and plague are high risks in some locationsanimal contact disease: rabieswater contact disease: leptospirosisnote: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identifiedamong birds in this country or surrounding region; it poses anegligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizenswho have close contact with birds (2007)
Nationality:noun: Vietnamese (singular and plural)adjective: Vietnamese
Ethnic groups:Kinh (Viet) 86.2%, Tay 1.9%, Thai 1.7%, Muong 1.5%, Khome 1.4%, Hoa1.1%, Nun 1.1%, Hmong 1%, others 4.1% (1999 census)
Religions:Buddhist 9.3%, Catholic 6.7%, Hoa Hao 1.5%, Cao Dai 1.1%,Protestant 0.5%, Muslim 0.1%, none 80.8% (1999 census)
Languages:Vietnamese (official), English (increasingly favored as a secondlanguage), some French, Chinese, and Khmer; mountain area languages(Mon-Khmer and Malayo-Polynesian)
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 90.3%male: 93.9%female: 86.9% (2002)
Government Vietnam
Country name:conventional long form: Socialist Republic of Vietnamconventional short form: Vietnamlocal long form: Cong Hoa Xa Hoi Chu Nghia Viet Namlocal short form: Viet Namabbreviation: SRV
Government type:Communist state
Capital:name: Hanoigeographic coordinates: 21 02 N, 105 51 Etime difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)
Administrative divisions:59 provinces (tinh, singular and plural) and 5 municipalities(thanh pho, singular and plural)provinces: An Giang, Bac Giang, Bac Kan, Bac Lieu, Bac Ninh, BaRia-Vung Tau, Ben Tre, Binh Dinh, Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc, BinhThuan, Ca Mau, Cao Bang, Dac Lak, Dac Nong, Dien Bien, Dong Nai,Dong Thap, Gia Lai, Ha Giang, Ha Nam, Ha Tay, Ha Tinh, Hai Duong,Hau Giang, Hoa Binh, Hung Yen, Khanh Hoa, Kien Giang, Kon Tum, LaiChau, Lam Dong, Lang Son, Lao Cai, Long An, Nam Dinh, Nghe An, NinhBinh, Ninh Thuan, Phu Tho, Phu Yen, Quang Binh, Quang Nam, QuangNgai, Quang Ninh, Quang Tri, Soc Trang, Son La, Tay Ninh, Thai Binh,Thai Nguyen, Thanh Hoa, Thua Thien-Hue, Tien Giang, Tra Vinh, TuyenQuang, Vinh Long, Vinh Phuc, Yen Baimunicipalities: Can Tho, Da Nang, Hai Phong, Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh
Independence:2 September 1945 (from France)
National holiday:Independence Day, 2 September (1945)
Constitution:15 April 1992
Legal system:based on communist legal theory and French civil law system
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Nguyen Minh TRIET (since 27 June 2006);Vice President Truong My HOA (since 25 July 2002)head of government: Prime Minister Nguyen Tan DUNG (since 27 June2006); Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh HUNG (since 28 June 2006),Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia KHIEM (since 28 June 2006), andDeputy Prime Minister Truong Vinh TRONG (since 28 June 2006)cabinet: Cabinet appointed by president based on proposal of primeminister and confirmed by National Assemblyelections: president elected by the National Assembly from among itsmembers for five-year term; election last held 27 June 2006; primeminister appointed by the president from among the members of theNational Assembly; deputy prime ministers appointed by the primeminister; appointment of prime minister and deputy prime ministersconfirmed by National Assemblyelection results: Nguyen Minh TRIET elected president; percent ofNational Assembly vote - 94%; Nguyen Tan DUNG elected primeminister; percent of National Assembly vote - 92%
Legislative branch:unicameral National Assembly or Quoc Hoi (498 seats; memberselected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)elections: last held 19 May 2002 (next to be held on 20 May 2007)election results: percent of vote by party - CPV 90%, other 10% (the10% are not CPV members but are approved by the CPV to stand forelection); seats by party - CPV 447, CPV-approved 51
Judicial branch:Supreme People's Court (chief justice is elected for a five-yearterm by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the president)
Political parties and leaders:Communist Party of Vietnam or CPV [Nong Duc MANH]; other partiesproscribed
Political pressure groups and leaders:8406 Bloc; Democratic Party of Vietnam or DPV; People's DemocraticParty Vietnam or PDP-VN; Alliance for Democracy; groups advocate fordemocracy, are not recognized by government (2006)
International organization participation:ACCT (observer), APEC, APT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, CP, EAS, FAO, G-77,IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW,UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Nguyen Tam CHIENchancery: 1233 20th Street NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20036telephone: [1] (202) 861-0737FAX: [1] (202) 861-0917consulate(s) general: San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Michael W. MARINE embassy: 7 Lang Ha Street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi mailing address: PSC 461, Box 400, FPO AP 96521-0002 telephone: [84] (4) 772-1500 FAX: [84] (4) 772-1510 consulate(s) general: Ho Chi Minh City
Flag description: red with a large yellow five-pointed star in the center
Economy Vietnam
Economy - overview:Vietnam is a densely-populated, developing country that in the last30 years has had to recover from the ravages of war, the loss offinancial support from the old Soviet Bloc, and the rigidities of acentrally-planned economy. Substantial progress was achieved from1986 to 1997 in moving forward from an extremely low level ofdevelopment and significantly reducing poverty. Growth averagedaround 9% per year from 1993 to 1997. The 1997 Asian financialcrisis highlighted the problems in the Vietnamese economy andtemporarily allowed opponents of reform to slow progress toward amarket-oriented economy. GDP growth averaged 6.8% per year from 1997to 2004 even against the background of the Asian financial crisisand a global recession, and growth hit 8% in 2005 and 7.8% in 2006.Since 2001, however, Vietnamese authorities have reaffirmed theircommitment to economic liberalization and international integration.They have moved to implement the structural reforms needed tomodernize the economy and to produce more competitive, export-drivenindustries. Vietnam's membership in the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA)and entry into force of the US-Vietnam Bilateral Trade Agreement inDecember 2001 have led to even more rapid changes in Vietnam's tradeand economic regime. Vietnam's exports to the US doubled in 2002 andagain in 2003. Vietnam joined the World Trade Organization inJanuary 2007. This should provide an important boost to the economyand should help to ensure the continuation of liberalizing reforms.Among other benefits, accession will allow Vietnam to take advantageof the phase out of the Agreement on Textiles and Clothing, whicheliminated quotas on textiles and clothing for WTO partners on 1January 2005. Agriculture's share of economic output has continuedto shrink, from about 25% in 2000 to 20% in 2006. Deep poverty,defined as a percent of the population living under $1 per day, hasdeclined significantly and is now smaller than that of China, India,and the Philippines. Vietnam is working to promote job creation tokeep up with the country's high population growth rate. However,high levels of inflation have prompted Vietnamese authorities totighten monetary and fiscal policies. Hanoi is targeting an economicgrowth rate between 7.5 and 8% over the next five years.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$258.6 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$48.26 billion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:7.8% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$3,100 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 20.1% industry: 41.8% services: 38.1% (2006 est.)
Labor force: 44.58 million (2006 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 56.8% industry: 37% services: 6.2% (July 2005)
Unemployment rate:2% (2006 est.)
Population below poverty line:19.5% (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.6% highest 10%: 29.9% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:36.1 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):7.5% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):32.6% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget:revenues: $15.42 billionexpenditures: $16.63 billion; including capital expenditures of $1.8billion (2006 est.)
Public debt:47.5% of GDP (2006 est.)
Agriculture - products:paddy rice, coffee, rubber, cotton, tea, pepper, soybeans, cashews,sugar cane, peanuts, bananas; poultry; fish, seafood
Industries:food processing, garments, shoes, machine-building; mining, coal,steel; cement, chemical fertilizer, glass, tires, oil, paper
Industrial production growth rate:11.3% (2006 est.)
Electricity - production:40.11 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 43.7% hydro: 56.3% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:37.3 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh
Electricity - imports:0 kWh
Oil - production:400,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption:230,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports:NA bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:NA bbl/day (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:2.5 billion bbl (2006 est.)
Natural gas - production:6.342 billion cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:6.342 billion cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m
Natural gas - proved reserves:192.6 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)
Current account balance:$1.029 billion (2006 est.)
Exports:$39.92 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Exports - commodities:crude oil, marine products, rice, coffee, rubber, tea, garments,shoes
Exports - partners:US 18.3%, Japan 13.6%, China 9%, Australia 7.9%, Singapore 5.6%(2005)
Imports:$39.16 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery and equipment, petroleum products, fertilizer, steelproducts, raw cotton, grain, cement, motorcycles
Imports - partners:China 15.6%, Singapore 12.4%, Taiwan 11.7%, Japan 11.1%, SouthKorea 9.7%, Thailand 6.5% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$11.92 billion (2006 est.)
Debt - external:$21.86 billion (2006 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $2.8 billion in credits and grants pledged by international donors for 2000 (2004)
Currency (code):dong (VND)
Currency code:VND
Exchange rates:dong per US dollar - 16,037 (2006), 15,746 (2005), (2004), 15,510(2003), 15,280 (2002)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Vietnam
Telephones - main lines in use:15.845 million (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:9.593 million (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: Vietnam is putting considerable effort intomodernization and expansion of its telecommunication system, but itsperformance continues to lag behind that of its more modern neighborsdomestic: all provincial exchanges are digitalized and connected toHanoi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City by fiber-optic cable ormicrowave radio relay networks; main lines have been substantiallyincreased, and the use of mobile telephones is growing rapidlyinternational: country code - 84; satellite earth stations - 2Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 65, FM 7, shortwave 29 (1999)
Radios:8.2 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:6 (plus 61 provincial TV stations) (2006)
Televisions:3.57 million (1997)
Internet country code:.vn
Internet hosts:12,114 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):5 (2000)
Internet users:13.1 million (2006)
Transportation Vietnam
Airports: 32 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 26 over 3,047 m: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 11 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 61,524 to 2,437 m: 2914 to 1,523 m: 2under 914 m: 2 (2006)
Pipelines:condensate/gas 432 km; gas 163 km; oil 50 km; refined products 206km (2006)
Railways:total: 2,600 kmstandard gauge: 178 km 1.435-m gaugenarrow gauge: 2,169 km 1.000-m gaugedual gauge: 253 km three-rail track combining 1.435 m and 1.000-mgauges (2005)
Roadways: total: 222,179 km paved: 42,167 km unpaved: 180,012 km (2004)
Waterways:17,702 km (5,000 km navigable by vessels up to 1.8 m draft) (2005)
Merchant marine:total: 267 ships (1000 GRT or over) 1,423,936 GRT/2,191,858 DWTby type: bulk carrier 23, cargo 202, chemical tanker 4, container 5,liquefied gas 5, petroleum tanker 24, refrigerated cargo 2, rollon/roll off 1, specialized tanker 1foreign-owned: 1 (Denmark 1)registered in other countries: 17 (Antigua and Barbuda 1, Honduras1, Mongolia 8, Panama 4, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1, unknown2) (2006)
Ports and terminals:Hai Phong, Ho Chi Minh City
Military Vietnam
Military branches:People's Armed Forces: People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) (includesPeople's Navy Command (with naval infantry, coast guard), Air andAir Defense Force (Kon Quan Nhan Dan), Border Defense Command),People's Public Security Forces, Militia Force, Self-Defense Forces(2005)
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age (male) for compulsory military service; females mayvolunteer for active duty military service; conscript serviceobligation - 2 years (3-4 years in the navy); 18-45 years of age(male) or 18-40 years of age (female) for Militia Force or SelfDefense Forces (2006)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 21,341,813females age 18-49: 21,430,808 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 16,032,358females age 18-49: 17,921,241 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 915,572females age 18-49: 864,161 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$650 million (FY98)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:2.5% (FY98)
Transnational Issues Vietnam
Disputes - international:southeast Asian states have enhanced border surveillance to checkthe spread of avian flu; Cambodia and Laos protest Vietnamesesquatters and armed encroachments along border; after years ofCambodia claiming Vietnam had moved or destroyed boundary markers,in 2005, after much domestic debate, Cambodia ratified an agreementwith Vietnam that settled all but a small portion of the landboundary; establishment of a maritime boundary with Cambodia ishampered by unresolved dispute over offshore islands; in 2004,Laotian-Vietnamese boundary commission agrees to erect missingmarkers in two adjoining provinces; demarcation of the China-Vietnamboundary proceeds slowly and although the maritime boundarydelimitation and fisheries agreements were ratified in June 2004,implementation has been delayed; China occupies Paracel Islands alsoclaimed by Vietnam and Taiwan; involved in complex dispute withChina, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, and possibly Brunei over theSpratly Islands; the 2002 "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties inthe South China Sea" has eased tensions but falls short of a legallybinding "code of conduct" desired by several of the disputants;Vietnam continues to expand construction of facilities in theSpratly Islands; in March 2005, the national oil companies of China,the Philippines, and Vietnam signed a joint accord to conduct marineseismic activities in the Spratly Islands
Illicit drugs:minor producer of opium poppy; probable minor transit point forSoutheast Asian heroin; government continues to face domesticopium/heroin/methamphetamine addiction problems despite longstandingcrackdowns
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007
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@Virgin Islands
Introduction Virgin Islands
Background: During the 17th century, the archipelago was divided into two territorial units, one English and the other Danish. Sugarcane, produced by slave labor, drove the islands' economy during the 18th and early 19th centuries. In 1917, the US purchased the Danish portion, which had been in economic decline since the abolition of slavery in 1848.
Geography Virgin Islands
Location:Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North AtlanticOcean, east of Puerto Rico
Geographic coordinates:18 20 N, 64 50 W
Map references:Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total: 1,910 sq kmland: 346 sq kmwater: 1,564 sq km
Area - comparative:twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:188 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:subtropical, tempered by easterly trade winds, relatively lowhumidity, little seasonal temperature variation; rainy seasonSeptember to November
Terrain:mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little level land
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Crown Mountain 475 m
Natural resources: sun, sand, sea, surf
Land use: arable land: 5.71% permanent crops: 2.86% other: 91.43% (2005)
Irrigated land:NA
Natural hazards:several hurricanes in recent years; frequent and severe droughtsand floods; occasional earthquakes
Environment - current issues:lack of natural freshwater resources