Transportation Western Sahara
Airports: 11 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 81,524 to 2,437 m: 1914 to 1,523 m: 4under 914 m: 3 (2006)
Ports and terminals:Ad Dakhla, Cabo Bojador, Laayoune (El Aaiun)
Military Western Sahara
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $992.2 million
Transnational Issues Western Sahara
Disputes - international:Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, whose sovereigntyremains unresolved; UN-administered cease-fire has remained ineffect since September 1991, administered by the UN Mission for theReferendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), but attempts to hold areferendum have failed and parties thus far have rejected allbrokered proposals
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007
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@World
Background:Globally, the 20th century was marked by: (a) two devastating worldwars; (b) the Great Depression of the 1930s; (c) the end of vastcolonial empires; (d) rapid advances in science and technology, fromthe first airplane flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina (US) to thelanding on the moon; (e) the Cold War between the Western allianceand the Warsaw Pact nations; (f) a sharp rise in living standards inNorth America, Europe, and Japan; (g) increased concerns about theenvironment, including loss of forests, shortages of energy andwater, the decline in biological diversity, and air pollution; (h)the onset of the AIDS epidemic; and (i) the ultimate emergence ofthe US as the only world superpower. The planet's populationcontinues to explode: from 1 billion in 1820, to 2 billion in 1930,3 billion in 1960, 4 billion in 1974, 5 billion in 1988, and 6billion in 2000. For the 21st century, the continued exponentialgrowth in science and technology raises both hopes (e.g., advancesin medicine) and fears (e.g., development of even more lethalweapons of war).
Geography World
Map references:Physical Map of the World, Political Map of the World, StandardTime Zones of the World
Area:total: 510.072 million sq kmland: 148.94 million sq kmwater: 361.132 million sq kmnote: 70.8% of the world's surface is water, 29.2% is land
Area - comparative:land area about 16 times the size of the US
Land boundaries:the land boundaries in the world total 250,708 km (not countingshared boundaries twice); two nations, China and Russia, each border14 other countriesnote: 44 nations and other areas are landlocked, these include:Afghanistan, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bhutan,Bolivia, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Central African Republic,Chad, Czech Republic, Ethiopia, Holy See (Vatican City), Hungary,Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg,Macedonia, Malawi, Mali, Moldova, Mongolia, Nepal, Niger, Paraguay,Rwanda, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Swaziland, Switzerland,Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Uzbekistan, West Bank, Zambia,Zimbabwe; two of these, Liechtenstein and Uzbekistan, are doublylandlocked
Coastline:356,000 kmnote: 98 nations and other entities are islands that border no othercountries, they include: American Samoa, Anguilla, Antigua andBarbuda, Aruba, Ashmore and Cartier Islands, The Bahamas, Bahrain,Baker Island, Barbados, Bassas da India, Bermuda, Bouvet Island,British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands, Cape Verde,Cayman Islands, Christmas Island, Clipperton Island, Cocos (Keeling)Islands, Comoros, Cook Islands, Coral Sea Islands, Cuba, Cyprus,Dominica, Europa Island, Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), FaroeIslands, Fiji, French Polynesia, French Southern and AntarcticLands, Glorioso Islands, Greenland, Grenada, Guam, Guernsey, HeardIsland and McDonald Islands, Howland Island, Iceland, Isle of Man,Jamaica, Jan Mayen, Japan, Jarvis Island, Jersey, Johnston Atoll,Juan de Nova Island, Kingman Reef, Kiribati, Madagascar, Maldives,Malta, Marshall Islands, Martinique, Mauritius, Mayotte, FederatedStates of Micronesia, Midway Islands, Montserrat, Nauru, NavassaIsland, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Norfolk Island, NorthernMariana Islands, Palau, Palmyra Atoll, Paracel Islands, Philippines,Pitcairn Islands, Puerto Rico, Reunion, Saint Helena, Saint Kittsand Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Saint Vincent andthe Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles, Singapore,Solomon Islands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands,Spratly Islands, Sri Lanka, Svalbard, Tokelau, Tonga, Trinidad andTobago, Tromelin Island, Turks and Caicos Islands, Tuvalu, Vanuatu,Virgin Islands, Wake Island, Wallis and Futuna, Taiwan
Maritime claims:a variety of situations exist, but in general, most countries makethe following claims measured from the mean low-tide baseline asdescribed in the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea:territorial sea - 12 nm, contiguous zone - 24 nm, and exclusiveeconomic zone - 200 nm; additional zones provide for exploitation ofcontinental shelf resources and an exclusive fishing zone; boundarysituations with neighboring states prevent many countries fromextending their fishing or economic zones to a full 200nm
Climate:a wide equatorial band of hot and humid tropical climates -bordered north and south by subtropical temperate zones - thatseparate two large areas of cold and dry polar climates
Terrain:the greatest ocean depth is the Mariana Trench at 10,924 m in thePacific Ocean
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Bentley Subglacial Trench -2,540 mnote: in the oceanic realm, Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench isthe lowest point, lying -10,924 m below the surface of the PacificOceanhighest point: Mount Everest 8,850 m
Natural resources:the rapid depletion of nonrenewable mineral resources, thedepletion of forest areas and wetlands, the extinction of animal andplant species, and the deterioration in air and water quality(especially in Eastern Europe, the former USSR, and China) poseserious long-term problems that governments and peoples are onlybeginning to address
Land use: arable land: 13.31% permanent crops: 4.71% other: 81.98% (2005)
Irrigated land:2,770,980 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:large areas subject to severe weather (tropical cyclones), naturaldisasters (earthquakes, landslides, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions)
Environment - current issues: large areas subject to overpopulation, industrial disasters, pollution (air, water, acid rain, toxic substances), loss of vegetation (overgrazing, deforestation, desertification), loss of wildlife, soil degradation, soil depletion, erosion
Geography - note:the world is now thought to be about 4.55 billion years old, justabout one-third of the 13-billion-year age estimated for the universe
People World
Population:6,525,170,264 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 27.4% (male 919,219,446/female 870,242,271)15-64 years: 65.2% (male 2,152,066,888/female 2,100,334,722)65 years and over: 7.4% (male 213,160,216/female 270,146,721)note: some countries do not maintain age structure information, thusa slight discrepancy exists between the total world population andthe total for world age structure (2006 est.)
Median age: total: 27.6 years male: 27 years female: 28.2 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:1.14% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:20.05 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:8.67 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.06 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 48.87 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 50.98 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 46.65 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 64.77 yearsmale: 63.16 yearsfemale: 66.47 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.59 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Religions:Christians 33.03% (of which Roman Catholics 17.33%, Protestants5.8%, Orthodox 3.42%, Anglicans 1.23%), Muslims 20.12%, Hindus13.34%, Buddhists 5.89%, Sikhs 0.39%, Jews 0.23%, other religions12.61%, non-religious 12.03%, atheists 2.36% (2004 est.)
Languages:Mandarin Chinese 13.69%, Spanish 5.05%, English 4.84%, Hindi 2.82%,Portuguese 2.77%, Bengali 2.68%, Russian 2.27%, Japanese 1.99%,Standard German 1.49%, Wu Chinese 1.21% (2004 est.)note: percents are for "first language" speakers only
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 82%male: 87%female: 77%note: over two-thirds of the world's 785 million illiterate adultsare found in only eight countries (India, China, Bangladesh,Pakistan, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Indonesia, and Egypt); of all theilliterate adults in the world, two-thirds are women; extremely lowliteracy rates are concentrated in three regions, South and WestAsia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the Arab states, where aroundone-third of the men and half of all women are illiterate (2005 est.)
Government World
Administrative divisions:268 nations, dependent areas, and other entities
Legal system:all members of the UN are parties to the statute that establishedthe International Court of Justice (ICJ) or World Court
Economy World
Economy - overview: Global output rose by 4.4% in 2005, led by China (9.3%), India (7.6%), and Russia (5.9%). The other 14 successor nations of the USSR and the other old Warsaw Pact nations again experienced widely divergent growth rates; the three Baltic nations continued as strong performers, in the 7% range of growth. Growth results posted by the major industrial countries varied from no gain for Italy to a strong gain by the United States (3.5%). The developing nations also varied in their growth results, with many countries facing population increases that erode gains in output. Externally, the nation-state, as a bedrock economic-political institution, is steadily losing control over international flows of people, goods, funds, and technology. Internally, the central government often finds its control over resources slipping as separatist regional movements - typically based on ethnicity - gain momentum, e.g., in many of the successor states of the former Soviet Union, in the former Yugoslavia, in India, in Iraq, in Indonesia, and in Canada. Externally, the central government is losing decisionmaking powers to international bodies, notably the EU. In Western Europe, governments face the difficult political problem of channeling resources away from welfare programs in order to increase investment and strengthen incentives to seek employment. The addition of 80 million people each year to an already overcrowded globe is exacerbating the problems of pollution, desertification, underemployment, epidemics, and famine. Because of their own internal problems and priorities, the industrialized countries devote insufficient resources to deal effectively with the poorer areas of the world, which, at least from an economic point of view, are becoming further marginalized. The introduction of the euro as the common currency of much of Western Europe in January 1999, while paving the way for an integrated economic powerhouse, poses economic risks because of varying levels of income and cultural and political differences among the participating nations. The terrorist attacks on the US on 11 September 2001 accentuated a further growing risk to global prosperity, illustrated, for example, by the reallocation of resources away from investment to anti-terrorist programs. The opening of war in March 2003 between a US-led coalition and Iraq added new uncertainties to global economic prospects. After the coalition victory, the complex political difficulties and the high economic cost of establishing domestic order in Iraq became major global problems that continued through 2006.
GDP (purchasing power parity):GWP (gross world product): $65 trillion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$46.66 trillion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:5.1% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$10,000 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 4% industry: 32% services: 64% (2004 est.)
Labor force: 3.001 billion (2005 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture: 41%industry: 20.7%services: 38.4% (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate:30% combined unemployment and underemployment in manynon-industrialized countries; developed countries typically 4%-12%unemployment
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.5% highest 10%: 29.9% (2002 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): developed countries 1% to 4% typically; developing countries 5% to 20% typically; national inflation rates vary widely in individual cases, from declining prices in Japan to hyperinflation in one Third World countries (Zimbabwe); inflation rates have declined for most countries for the last several years, held in check by increasing international competition from several low wage countries (2005 est.)
Industries:dominated by the onrush of technology, especially in computers,robotics, telecommunications, and medicines and medical equipment;most of these advances take place in OECD nations; only a smallportion of non-OECD countries have succeeded in rapidly adjusting tothese technological forces; the accelerated development of newindustrial (and agricultural) technology is complicating alreadygrim environmental problems
Industrial production growth rate:3% (2003 est.)
Electricity - production:17.15 trillion kWh (2004 est.)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: NA hydro: NA nuclear: NA other: NA
Electricity - consumption:16.18 trillion kWh (2004 est.)
Electricity - exports:562.2 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:568.5 billion kWh (2004)
Oil - production:83 million bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:82.59 million bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - proved reserves:1.326 trillion bbl (1 January 2002 est.)
Natural gas - production:2.824 trillion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:2.82 trillion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - exports:810.9 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - imports:828 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:172.2 trillion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)
Exports:$12.45 trillion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:the whole range of industrial and agricultural goods and services
Exports - partners:US 15.6%, Germany 7.4%, China 5.7%, France 4.9%, UK 4.7%, Japan4.5% (2005)
Imports:$12.08 trillion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:the whole range of industrial and agricultural goods and services
Imports - partners:China 9.3%, Germany 9%, US 9%, Japan 6.1%, France 4.2% (2005)
Debt - external:$44.62 trillionnote: this figure is the sum total of all countries' external debt,both public and private (2004 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$154 billion official development assistance (ODA) (2004)
Communications World
Telephones - main lines in use:1,263,367,600 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:2,168,433,600 (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: NAdomestic: NAinternational: NA
Radio broadcast stations:AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
Radios:NA
Television broadcast stations:NA
Televisions:NA
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):10,350 (2000 est.)
Internet users:1,018,057,389 (2005)
Transportation World
Airports:49,024 (2006)
Heliports:2,021 (2006)
Railways:total: 1,115,205 kmbroad gauge: 257,481 kmstandard gauge: 671,413 kmnarrow gauge: 186,311 km (2003)
Roadways: total: 32,345,165 km paved: 19,403,061 km unpaved: 12,942,104 km (2002)
Waterways:671,886 km (2004)
Merchant marine:total: 33,222 ships (1000 GRT or over) (2006)
Military World
Military expenditures - dollar figure: aggregate real expenditure on arms worldwide has increased in the beginning of the 21st century, with the largest increase in the US; a rough estimate for 2005 is $1.2 trillion (at puchasing power parity) (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: roughly 2% of gross world product (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues World
Disputes - international:stretching over 250,000 km, the world's 329 international landboundaries separate the 193 independent states and 73 dependencies,areas of special sovereignty, and other miscellaneous entities;ethnicity, culture, race, religion, and language have divided statesinto separate political entities as much as history, physicalterrain, political fiat, or conquest, resulting in sometimesarbitrary and imposed boundaries; maritime states have claimedlimits and have so far established over 130 maritime boundaries andjoint development zones to allocate ocean resources and to providefor national security at sea; boundary, borderland/resource, andterritorial disputes vary in intensity from managed or dormant toviolent or militarized; most disputes over the alignment ofpolitical boundaries are confined to short segments and are todayless common and less hostile than borderland, resource, andterritorial disputes; undemarcated, indefinite, porous, andunmanaged boundaries, however, encourage illegal cross-borderactivities, uncontrolled migration, and confrontation; territorialdisputes may evolve from historical and/or cultural claims, or theymay be brought on by resource competition; ethnic and culturalclashes continue to be responsible for much of the territorialfragmentation around the world; disputes over islands at sea or inrivers frequently form the source of territorial and boundaryconflict; other sources of contention include access to water andmineral (especially petroleum) resources, fisheries, and arableland; nonetheless, most nations cooperate to clarify theirinternational boundaries and to resolve territorial and resourcedisputes peacefully; regional discord today prevails not so muchbetween the armed forces of independent states as between statelessarmed entities that detract from the sustenance and welfare of localpopulations, leaving the community of nations to cope with resultantrefugees, hunger, disease, impoverishment, and environmentaldegradation
Refugees and internally displaced persons: the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimated that in December 2005 there was a global population of 8.4 million registered refugees, the lowest number in 26 years, and as many as 23.7 million IDPs in more than 50 countries; the actual global population of refugees is probably closer to 10 million given the estimated 1.5 million Iraqi refugees displaced throughout the Middle East (2006)
Trafficking in persons:current situation: about 600,000 to 800,000 people, mostly womenand children, are trafficked annually across national borders, notincluding millions trafficked within their own countries; at least80% of the victims are female; 75% of all victims are traffickedinto commercial sexual exploitation; roughly two-thirds of theglobal victims are trafficked intra-regionally within East Asia andthe Pacific (260,000 to 280,000 people) and Europe and Eurasia(170,000 to 210,000 people)
Illicit drugs:cocaine: worldwide coca cultivation in 2004 amounted to 166,200hectares; Colombia produced slightly more than two-thirds of theworldwide crop, followed by Peru and Bolivia; potential pure cocaineproduction of 645 metric tons in 2004 marked the lowest level ofAndean cocaine production in the past 10 years; Colombia conductsaggressive coca eradication campaign, but both Peruvian and BolivianGovernments are hesitant to eradicate coca in key growing areas; 376metric tons of export-quality cocaine are documented to have beenseized in 2003, and 26 metric tons disrupted (jettisoned ordestroyed); consumption of export quality cocaine is estimated tohave been 800 metric tonsopiates: worldwide illicit opium poppy cultivation reached 258,630hectares in 2004; potential opium production of 5,444 metric tonswas highest total recorded since estimates began in mid-1980s;Afghanistan is world's primary opium producer, accounting for 91% ofthe global supply; Southeast Asia - responsible for 7% of globalopium - continued to diminish in importance in the world opiummarket; Latin America produced 2% of global opium, but most refinedinto heroin destined for United States; if all opium processed intopure heroin, the potential global production would be 632 metrictons of heroin in 2004
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007
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@Yemen
Introduction Yemen
Background:North Yemen became independent of the Ottoman Empire in 1918. TheBritish, who had set up a protectorate area around the southern portof Aden in the 19th century, withdrew in 1967 from what became SouthYemen. Three years later, the southern government adopted a Marxistorientation. The massive exodus of hundreds of thousands of Yemenisfrom the south to the north contributed to two decades of hostilitybetween the states. The two countries were formally unified as theRepublic of Yemen in 1990. A southern secessionist movement in 1994was quickly subdued. In 2000, Saudi Arabia and Yemen agreed to adelimitation of their border.
Geography Yemen
Location:Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Red Sea,between Oman and Saudi Arabia
Geographic coordinates:15 00 N, 48 00 E
Map references:Middle East
Area:total: 527,970 sq kmland: 527,970 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmnote: includes Perim, Socotra, the former Yemen Arab Republic (YARor North Yemen), and the former People's Democratic Republic ofYemen (PDRY or South Yemen)
Area - comparative:slightly larger than twice the size of Wyoming
Land boundaries: total: 1,746 km border countries: Oman 288 km, Saudi Arabia 1,458 km
Coastline: 1,906 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate:mostly desert; hot and humid along west coast; temperate in westernmountains affected by seasonal monsoon; extraordinarily hot, dry,harsh desert in east
Terrain:narrow coastal plain backed by flat-topped hills and ruggedmountains; dissected upland desert plains in center slope into thedesert interior of the Arabian Peninsula
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Arabian Sea 0 mhighest point: Jabal an Nabi Shu'ayb 3,760 m
Natural resources:petroleum, fish, rock salt, marble; small deposits of coal, gold,lead, nickel, and copper; fertile soil in west
Land use: arable land: 2.91% permanent crops: 0.25% other: 96.84% (2005)
Irrigated land:5,500 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:sandstorms and dust storms in summer
Environment - current issues:very limited natural fresh water resources; inadequate supplies ofpotable water; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, EnvironmentalModification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone LayerProtectionsigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:strategic location on Bab el Mandeb, the strait linking the Red Seaand the Gulf of Aden, one of world's most active shipping lanes
People Yemen
Population:21,456,188 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 46.4% (male 5,067,762/female 4,881,333)15-64 years: 51% (male 5,568,078/female 5,375,263)65 years and over: 2.6% (male 275,878/female 287,874) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 16.6 yearsmale: 16.6 yearsfemale: 16.6 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:3.46% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:42.89 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:8.3 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.96 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 59.88 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 64.55 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 54.98 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 62.12 yearsmale: 60.23 yearsfemale: 64.11 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:6.58 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:12,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality: noun: Yemeni(s) adjective: Yemeni
Ethnic groups:predominantly Arab; but also Afro-Arab, South Asians, Europeans
Religions:Muslim including Shaf'i (Sunni) and Zaydi (Shi'a), small numbers ofJewish, Christian, and Hindu
Languages:Arabic
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 50.2%male: 70.5%female: 30% (2003 est.)
Government Yemen
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Yemenconventional short form: Yemenlocal long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Yamaniyahlocal short form: Al Yamanformer: Yemen Arab Republic [Yemen (Sanaa) or North Yemen] andPeople's Democratic Republic of Yemen [Yemen (Aden) or South Yemen]
Government type:republic
Capital:name: Sanaageographic coordinates: 15 21 N, 44 12 Etime difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)
Administrative divisions:19 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Abyan, 'Adan, AdDali', Al Bayda', Al Hudaydah, Al Jawf, Al Mahrah, Al Mahwit,'Amran, Dhamar, Hadramawt, Hajjah, Ibb, Lahij, Ma'rib, Sa'dah,San'a', Shabwah, Ta'izznote: for electoral and administrative purposes, the capital city ofSanaa is treated as an additional governorate
Independence:22 May 1990 (Republic of Yemen established with the merger of theYemen Arab Republic [Yemen (Sanaa) or North Yemen] and theMarxist-dominated People's Democratic Republic of Yemen [Yemen(Aden) or South Yemen]); note - previously North Yemen had becomeindependent in November of 1918 (from the Ottoman Empire) and SouthYemen had become independent on 30 November 1967 (from the UK)
National holiday:Unification Day, 22 May (1990)
Constitution:16 May 1991; amended 29 September 1994 and February 2001
Legal system:based on Islamic law, Turkish law, English common law, and localtribal customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Ali Abdallah SALIH (since 22 May 1990,the former president of North Yemen, assumed office upon the mergerof North and South Yemen); Vice President Maj. Gen. Abd al-RabMansur al-HADI (since 3 October 1994)head of government: Prime Minister Abd al-Qadir BA JAMAL; DeputyPrime Ministers Rashid Muhammad al-ALIMI, Alawi Salah al-SALAMI,Ahmad Muhammad Abdallah al-SUFANcabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on theadvice of the prime ministerelections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term;election last held 20 September 2006 (next to be held September2013); vice president appointed by the president; prime minister anddeputy prime ministers appointed by the presidentelection results: Ali Abdallah SALIH elected president; percent ofvote - Ali Abdallah SALIH 77.2%, Faysal BIN SHAMLAN 21.8%
Legislative branch:a new constitutional amendment ratified on 20 February 2001 createda bicameral legislature consisting of a Shura Council (111 seats;members appointed by the president) and a House of Representatives(301 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms)elections: last held 27 April 2003 (next to be held in April 2009)election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -GPC 228, Islah 47, YSP 7, Nasserite Unionist Party 3, National ArabSocialist Ba'th Party 2, independents 14
Judicial branch:Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:there are more than 12 political parties active in Yemen, some ofthe more prominent are: General People's Congress or GPC [PresidentAli Abdallah SALIH]; Islamic Reform Grouping or Islah [ShaykhAbdallah bin Husayn al-AHMAR]; Nasserite Unionist Party [Abdal Malikal-MAKHLAFI]; National Arab Socialist Ba'th Party [Dr. Qasim SALAM];Yemeni Socialist Party or YSP [Ali Salih MUQBIL]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:AFESD, AMF, CAEU, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory),ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM,IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer),OIC, ONUB, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIS, UNOCI,UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Abd al-Wahab Abdallah al-HAJRI chancery: 2319 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 965-4760 FAX: [1] (202) 337-2017
Diplomatic representation from the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas C. KRAJESKIembassy: Sa'awan Street, Sanaamailing address: P. O. Box 22347, Sanaatelephone: [967] (1) 755-2000 ext. 2153 or 2266FAX: [967] (1) 303-182
Flag description:three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black;similar to the flag of Syria, which has two green stars, and ofIraq, which has three green stars (plus an Arabic inscription), in ahorizontal line centered in the white band; also similar to the flagof Egypt, which has a heraldic eagle centered in the white band
Economy Yemen
Economy - overview:Yemen, one of the poorest countries in the Arab world, reportedaverage annual growth of 3.5% from 2000 through 2006. Its economicfortunes depend mostly on oil. Oil revenues probably increased in2006 as a result of higher prices. Yemen was on an IMF-supportedstructural adjustment program designed to modernize and streamlinethe economy, which led to substantial foreign debt relief andrestructuring. However, government dedication to the program wanedin 2001 for political reasons. Yemen is struggling to controlexcessive spending and rampant corruption. Yemen is dependent onforeign aid to finance its budget deficits and development projects.In November, Yemen secured $4.7 billion in assistance from ArabianGulf and Western donors.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$20.38 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$15.16 billion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:3.2% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$900 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 12.5% industry: 43.8% services: 43.7% (2006 est.)
Labor force: 5.759 million (2006 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: note: most people are employed in agriculture and herding; services, construction, industry, and commerce account for less than one-fourth of the labor force
Unemployment rate:35% (2003 est.)
Population below poverty line:45.2% (2003)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: 3%highest 10%: 25.9% (2003)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:33.4 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):14.8% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):15.7% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget:revenues: $7.314 billionexpenditures: $6.984 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA(2006 est.)
Public debt:30% of GDP (2006 est.)
Agriculture - products:grain, fruits, vegetables, pulses, qat, coffee, cotton; dairyproducts, livestock (sheep, goats, cattle, camels), poultry; fish
Industries:crude oil production and petroleum refining; small-scale productionof cotton textiles and leather goods; food processing; handicrafts;small aluminum products factory; cement; commercial ship repair
Industrial production growth rate:3% (2003 est.)
Electricity - production:4.077 billion kWh (2004 est.)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:3.792 billion kWh (2004 est.)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2004)
Oil - production:387,500 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption:85,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports:370,300 bbl/day (2003)
Oil - imports:NA bbl/day (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:3.72 billion bbl (2006 est.)
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:478.6 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)
Current account balance:$1.69 billion (2006 est.)
Exports:$8.214 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Exports - commodities:crude oil, coffee, dried and salted fish
Exports - partners:China 35.3%, India 16.2%, Thailand 11.9%, Japan 6.3%, South Korea6.3%, Switzerland 5.5% (2005)
Imports:$5.042 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities:food and live animals, machinery and equipment, chemicals
Imports - partners:UAE 18.9%, Saudi Arabia 8.9%, Switzerland 8.6%, Kuwait 6.7%, China6.1%, US 4.5% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$6.735 billion (2006 est.)
Debt - external:$5.469 billion (2006 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$2.3 billion (2003-07 disbursements)
Currency (code):Yemeni rial (YER)
Currency code:YER
Exchange rates:Yemeni rials per US dollar - 197.467 (2006), 192.67 (2005), 184.78(2004), 183.45 (2003), 175.63 (2002)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Yemen
Telephones - main lines in use:900,000 (2006)
Telephones - mobile cellular:2,074,846 (2006)
Telephone system:general assessment: since unification in 1990, efforts have beenmade to create a national telecommunications networkdomestic: the national network consists of microwave radio relay,cable, tropospheric scatter, and GSM cellular mobile telephonesystemsinternational: country code - 967; satellite earth stations - 3Intelsat (2 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean), 1 Intersputnik(Atlantic Ocean region), and 2 Arabsat; microwave radio relay toSaudi Arabia and Djibouti
Radio broadcast stations:AM 6, FM 1, shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios:1.05 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:7 (plus several low-power repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:470,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.ye
Internet hosts:171 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):1 (2000)
Internet users:220,000 (2005)
Transportation Yemen
Airports: 46 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 16over 3,047 m: 42,438 to 3,047 m: 81,524 to 2,437 m: 2914 to 1,523 m: 1under 914 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 30over 3,047 m: 32,438 to 3,047 m: 71,524 to 2,437 m: 5914 to 1,523 m: 11under 914 m: 4 (2006)
Pipelines:gas 71 km; liquid petroleum gas 22 km; oil 1,284 km (2006)
Roadways:total: 71,300 kmpaved: 6,200 kmunpaved: 65,100 km (2005)
Merchant marine:total: 4 ships (1000 GRT or over) 15,400 GRT/18,072 DWTby type: cargo 1, chemical tanker 1, petroleum tanker 1, rollon/roll off 1registered in other countries: 9 (Bolivia 1, Cambodia 3, North Korea2, Panama 3) (2006)
Ports and terminals:Aden, Nishtun
Military Yemen
Military branches:Army (includes Special Forces), Navy (includes Marines), UnifiedYemen Air Force (includes Air Defense Force) (2006)
Military service age and obligation: in May 2001, Yemen's National Defense Council abolished compulsory military service and authorized a voluntary program for military service (2004)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 4,058,223females age 18-49: 3,868,112 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 2,790,705females age 18-49: 2,792,406 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 236,517females age 18-49: 230,641 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$992.2 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:6.4% (2005 est.)
Military - note:a Coast Guard was established in 2002
Transnational Issues Yemen
Disputes - international:Yemen protests Eritrea fishing around the Hanish Islands awarded toYemen by the ICJ in 1999; Saudi Arabia still maintains theconcrete-filled pipe as a security barrier along sections of theborder with Yemen in 2004 to stem illegal cross-border activities;Yemen protests Saudi erection of a concrete-filled pipe as asecurity barrier in 2004 to stem illegal cross-border activities insections of the boundary
Refugees and internally displaced persons:refugees (country of origin): 78,582 (Somalia) (2006)
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007
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@Zambia
Introduction Zambia
Background:The territory of Northern Rhodesia was administered by the[British] South Africa Company from 1891 until it was taken over bythe UK in 1923. During the 1920s and 1930s, advances in miningspurred development and immigration. The name was changed to Zambiaupon independence in 1964. In the 1980s and 1990s, declining copperprices and a prolonged drought hurt the economy. Elections in 1991brought an end to one-party rule, but the subsequent vote in 1996saw blatant harassment of opposition parties. The election in 2001was marked by administrative problems with three parties filing alegal petition challenging the election of ruling party candidateLevy MWANAWASA. The new president launched an anticorruption taskforce in 2002, but the government has yet to make a prosecution. TheZambian leader was reelected in 2006 in an election that was deemedfree and fair.
Geography Zambia
Location:Southern Africa, east of Angola
Geographic coordinates:15 00 S, 30 00 E
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 752,614 sq kmland: 740,724 sq kmwater: 11,890 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly larger than Texas
Land boundaries:total: 5,664 kmborder countries: Angola 1,110 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo1,930 km, Malawi 837 km, Mozambique 419 km, Namibia 233 km, Tanzania338 km, Zimbabwe 797 km
Coastline:0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:none (landlocked)
Climate:tropical; modified by altitude; rainy season (October to April)
Terrain:mostly high plateau with some hills and mountains
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Zambezi river 329 mhighest point: unnamed location in Mafinga Hills 2,301 m
Natural resources:copper, cobalt, zinc, lead, coal, emeralds, gold, silver, uranium,hydropower
Land use: arable land: 6.99% permanent crops: 0.04% other: 92.97% (2005)
Irrigated land:1,560 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:periodic drought, tropical storms (November to April)
Environment - current issues:air pollution and resulting acid rain in the mineral extraction andrefining region; chemical runoff into watersheds; poaching seriouslythreatens rhinoceros, elephant, antelope, and large cat populations;deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; lack of adequate watertreatment presents human health risks
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection,Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note:landlocked; the Zambezi forms a natural riverine boundary withZimbabwe
People Zambia
Population:11,502,010note: 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: 46.3% (male 2,673,891/female 2,656,268)15-64 years: 51.3% (male 2,925,910/female 2,969,324)65 years and over: 2.4% (male 117,877/female 158,740) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 16.5 yearsmale: 16.3 yearsfemale: 16.7 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:2.11% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:41 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:19.93 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 86.84 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 94.08 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 79.37 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 40.03 yearsmale: 39.76 yearsfemale: 40.31 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:5.39 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:16.5% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:920,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:89,000 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:degree of risk: very highfood or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, andtyphoid fevervectorborne diseases: malaria and plague are high risks in somelocationswater contact disease: schistosomiasis (2007)
Nationality:noun: Zambian(s)adjective: Zambian
Ethnic groups:African 98.7%, European 1.1%, other 0.2%
Religions:Christian 50%-75%, Muslim and Hindu 24%-49%, indigenous beliefs 1%
Languages:English (official), major vernaculars - Bemba, Kaonda, Lozi, Lunda,Luvale, Nyanja, Tonga, and about 70 other indigenous languages
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and write Englishtotal population: 80.6%male: 86.8%female: 74.8% (2003 est.)
Government Zambia
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Zambiaconventional short form: Zambiaformer: Northern Rhodesia
Government type:republic
Capital:name: Lusakageographic coordinates: 15 25 S, 28 17 Etime difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)
Administrative divisions:9 provinces; Central, Copperbelt, Eastern, Luapula, Lusaka,Northern, North-Western, Southern, Western
Independence:24 October 1964 (from UK)
National holiday:Independence Day, 24 October (1964)
Constitution:24 August 1991; amended in 1996 to establish presidential termlimits
Legal system:based on English common law and customary law; judicial review oflegislative acts in an ad hoc constitutional council; has notaccepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Levy MWANAWASA (since 2 January 2002);Vice President Rupiah BANDA (since 9 October 2006); note - thepresident is both the chief of state and head of governmenthead of government: President Levy MWANAWASA (since 2 January 2002);Vice President Rupiah BANDA (since 9 October 2006); note - thepresident is both the chief of state and head of governmentcabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among the membersof the National Assemblyelections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term(eligible for a second term); election last held 28 September 2006(next to be held 2011); vice president appointed by the presidentelection results: Levy MWANAWASA reelected president; percent ofvote - Levy MWANAWASA 43.0%, Michael SATA 29.4%, Hakainde HICHILEMA25.3%, Godfrey MIYANDA 1.6%, Winright NGONDO 0.8%
Legislative branch:unicameral National Assembly (158 seats; 150 members are elected bypopular vote, eight members are appointed by the president, to servefive-year terms)elections: last held 28 September 2006 (next to be held in 2011)election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -MMD 72, PF 44, UDA 27, ULP 2, NDF 1, independents 2; seats notdetermined 2
Judicial branch:Supreme Court (the final court of appeal; justices are appointed bythe president); High Court (has unlimited jurisdiction to hear civiland criminal cases)
Political parties and leaders:Agenda for Zambia or AZ [Inonge MBIKUSITA-LEWANIKA]; Forum forDemocracy and Development or FDD [Christon TEMBO]; Heritage Party orHP [Godfrey MIYANDA]; Liberal Progressive Front or LPF [RogerCHONGWE, president]; Movement for Multiparty Democracy or MMD [LevyMWANAWASA, acting president]; National Leadership for Development orNLD [Yobert SHAMAPANDE]; National Party or NP [Dr. Sam CHIPUNGU];Patriotic Front or PF [Michael SATA]; Social Democratic Party or SDP[Gwendoline KONIE]; United National Independence Party or UNIP[Francis NKHOMA, president]; United Party for National Developmentor UPND [Anderson MAZOKA]; Zambian Republican Party or ZRP [BenjaminMWILA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACP, AfDB, AU, C, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM,IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO(correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, OPCW, PCA, SADC, UN,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCL,WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Inonge MBIKUSITA-LEWANIKA chancery: 2419 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 265-9717 through 9719 FAX: [1] (202) 332-0826
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Carmen M. MARTINEZ embassy: corner of Independence and United Nations Avenues, Lusaka mailing address: P. O. Box 31617, Lusaka telephone: [260] (1) 250-955 FAX: [260] (1) 252-225
Flag description:green with a panel of three vertical bands of red (hoist side),black, and orange below a soaring orange eagle, on the outer edge ofthe flag
Economy Zambia
Economy - overview:Despite progress in privatization and budgetary reform, Zambia'seconomic growth in 2005-06 remained somewhat below the 6%-7% peryear needed to reduce poverty significantly. Privatization ofgovernment-owned copper mines relieved the government from coveringmammoth losses generated by the industry and greatly improved thechances for copper mining to return to profitability and spureconomic growth. Copper output has increased steadily since 2004,due to higher copper prices and the opening of new mines. The maizeharvest was again good in 2005, helping boost GDP and agriculturalexports. Cooperation continues with international bodies on programsto reduce poverty, including a new lending arrangement with the IMFin the second quarter of 2004. A tighter monetary policy will helpcut inflation, but Zambia still has a serious problem with highpublic debt.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$11.51 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$5.806 billion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:6% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$1,000 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 19.9% industry: 28.9% services: 51.2% (2006 est.)
Labor force: 4.903 million (2006 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 85% industry: 6% services: 9%
Unemployment rate:50% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line:86% (1993)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.1% highest 10%: 41% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:52.6 (1998)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):8.8% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):26.5% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget:revenues: $2.674 billionexpenditures: $2.99 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA(2006 est.)
Public debt:65.7% of GDP (2006 est.)
Agriculture - products:corn, sorghum, rice, peanuts, sunflower seed, vegetables, flowers,tobacco, cotton, sugarcane, cassava (tapioca), coffee; cattle,goats, pigs, poultry, milk, eggs, hides
Industries:copper mining and processing, construction, foodstuffs, beverages,chemicals, textiles, fertilizer, horticulture
Industrial production growth rate:10.1% (2006 est.)
Electricity - production:9.962 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 0.5% hydro: 99.5% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:6.692 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:2.975 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:403 million kWh (2004)
Oil - production:140 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:13,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports:NA bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:NA bbl/day (2001)
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Current account balance:$-165.4 million (2006 est.)
Exports:$3.928 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Exports - commodities:copper/cobalt 64%, cobalt, electricity; tobacco, flowers, cotton
Exports - partners:Switzerland 28.7%, South Africa 18.6%, UK 14.4%, DemocraticRepublic of the Congo 5.4%, Tanzania 5.1%, Zimbabwe 4.1% (2005)
Imports:$3.092 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities:machinery, transportation equipment, petroleum products,electricity, fertilizer; foodstuffs, clothing
Imports - partners:South Africa 47.6%, UK 12.6%, Zimbabwe 4.3% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$1.05 billion (2006 est.)
Debt - external:$4.397 billion (2006 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$640.6 million (2002)
Currency (code):Zambian kwacha (ZMK)
Currency code:ZMK
Exchange rates:Zambian kwacha per US dollar - 3,371.98 (2006), 4,463.5 (2005),4,778.9 (2004), 4,733.3 (2003), 4,398.6 (2002)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Zambia
Telephones - main lines in use:94,700 (2005)