International organization participation:
ACCT (observer), ADB (nonregional members), AfDB (nonregionalmembers), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CE, CEI, CERN,EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G-9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, NAM(guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE,Paris Club, PCA, PFP, Schengen Convention, SECI (observer), UN,UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOMIG, UNTSO, UNWTO,UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Deputy Chief of Mission Andreas Riecken chancery: 3524 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008-3035 telephone: [1] (202) 895-6700 FAX: [1] (202) 895-6750 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador David F. GIRARD-DICARLO embassy: Boltzmanngasse 16, A-1090, Vienna mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [43] (1) 31339-0 FAX: [43] (1) 3100682
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and red
EconomyAustria
Economy - overview:
Austria, with its well-developed market economy and high standard of living, is closely tied to other EU economies, especially Germany's. The Austrian economy also benefits greatly from strong commercial relations, especially in the banking and insurance sectors, with central, eastern, and southeastern Europe. The economy features a large service sector, a sound industrial sector, and a small, but highly developed agricultural sector. Membership in the EU has drawn an influx of foreign investors attracted by Austria's access to the single European market and proximity to the new EU economies. The outgoing government has successfully pursued a comprehensive economic reform program, aimed at streamlining government and creating a more competitive business environment, further strengthening Austria's attractiveness as an investment location. It has implemented effective pension reforms; however, lower taxes in 2005-06 led to a small budget deficit in 2006 and 2007. Boosted by strong exports, growth nevertheless reached 3.3% in both 2006 and 2007, although the economy may slow in 2008 because of the strong euro, high oil prices, and problems in international financial markets. To meet increased competition - especially from new EU members and Central European countries - Austria will need to continue restructuring, emphasizing knowledge-based sectors of the economy, and encouraging greater labor flexibility and greater labor participation by its aging population.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$322 billion (2007 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$373.9 billion (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.1% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$39,300 (2007 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1.6% industry: 30.3% services: 68% (2007 est.)
Labor force:
3.566 million (2007 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 3% industry: 27% services: 70% (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate:
4.4% (2007 est.)
Population below poverty line:
5.9% (2004)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.3% highest 10%: 22.5% (2004)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
26 (2005)
Investment (gross fixed):
20.6% of GDP (2007 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $177.5 billion expenditures: $179.9 billion (2007 est.)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Public debt:
59.1% of GDP (2007 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.2% (2007 est.)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
6.3% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
NA note: see entry for the European Union for money supply in the Euro Area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 15 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money and quasi money circulating within their own borders
Stock of quasi money:
Stock of domestic credit:
$599.5 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
grains, potatoes, sugar beets, wine, fruit; dairy products, cattle, pigs, poultry; lumber
Industries:
construction, machinery, vehicles and parts, food, metals, chemicals, lumber and wood processing, paper and paperboard, communications equipment, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
5.7% (2007 est.)
Electricity - production:
59.31 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - consumption:
62.35 billion kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - exports:
15.51 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
22.13 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 29.3% hydro: 67.2% nuclear: 0% other: 3.5% (2001)
Oil - production:
24,920 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - consumption:
289,400 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - exports:
46,300 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - imports:
313,500 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - proved reserves:
50 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)
Natural gas - production:
1.848 billion cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
8.436 billion cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
2.767 billion cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
9.658 billion cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
16.14 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)
Current account balance:
$12.03 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
$162.1 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, motor vehicles and parts, paper and paperboard, metal goods, chemicals, iron and steel, textiles, foodstuffs
Exports - partners:
Germany 29.8%, Italy 8.8%, US 4.9%, Switzerland 4.3% (2007)
Imports:
$160.3 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, metal goods, oil and oil products; foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
Germany 45.5%, Italy 7.1%, Switzerland 5%, Netherlands 4.3% (2007)
Economic aid - donor:
ODA, $1.498 billion (2006)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$18.22 billion (2006 est.)
Debt - external:
$752.5 billion (30 June 2007)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$222.9 billion (2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$208.1 billion (2007 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$126.3 billion (2005)
Currency (code):
euro (EUR)
Currency code:
Exchange rates:
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003)
CommunicationsAustria
Telephones - main lines in use:
3.374 million (2007)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
9.768 million (2007)
Telephone system:
general assessment: highly developed and efficient domestic: fixed-line subscribership has been in decline since the mid-1990s with mobile-cellular subscribership eclipsing it by the late 1990s; the fiber-optic net is very extensive; all telephone applications and Internet services are available international: country code - 43; satellite earth stations - 15; in addition, there are about 600 VSATs (very small aperture terminals) (2007)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2, FM 65 (plus several hundred repeaters), shortwave 1 (2001)
Radios:
6.08 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
10 (plus more than 1,000 repeaters) (2001)
Televisions:
4.25 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.at
Internet hosts:
2.806 million (2008)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
37 (2000)
Internet users:
4.277 million (2007)
TransportationAustria
Airports:
55 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 25 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 15 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 30 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 26 (2007)
Heliports:
1 (2007)
Pipelines:
gas 2,722 km; oil 663 km; refined products 157 km (2007)
Railways:
total: 6,383 km standard gauge: 5,924 km 1.435-m gauge (3,772 km electrified) narrow gauge: 371 km 1.000-m gauge; 88 km 0.760-m gauge (25 km electrified) (2006)
Roadways:
total: 107,262 km paved: 107,262 km (includes 1,677 km of expressways) (2006)
Waterways:
358 km (2007)
Merchant marine:
total: 4 by type: cargo 2, container 2 foreign-owned: 2 (Netherlands 2) registered in other countries: 4 (Cyprus 1, Malta 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 2) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Enns, Krems, Linz, Vienna
MilitaryAustria
Military branches:
Land Forces (KdoLdSK), Air Forces (KdoLuSK)
Military service age and obligation:
18-35 years of age for compulsory military service; 16 years of age for male or female voluntary service; service obligation 7 months of training, followed by an 8-year reserve obligation (2006)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,986,411 females age 16-49: 1,944,834 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,617,385 females age 16-49: 1,583,886 (2008 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 50,869 female: 48,246 (2008 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.9% of GDP (2005 est.)
Transnational IssuesAustria
Disputes - international:
while threats of international legal action never materialized in 2007, 915,220 Austrians, with the support of the newly elected Freedom Party, signed a petition in January 2008, demanding that Austria block the Czech Republic's accession to the EU unless Prague closes its nuclear power plant in Temelin, bordering Austria
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and South American cocaine destined for Western Europe; increasing consumption of European-produced synthetic drugs
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008
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@Azerbaijan
IntroductionAzerbaijan
Background:
Azerbaijan - a nation with a majority-Turkic and majority-Muslim population - was briefly independent from 1918 to 1920; it regained its independence after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Despite a 1994 cease-fire, Azerbaijan has yet to resolve its conflict with Armenia over the Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh enclave (largely Armenian populated). Azerbaijan has lost 16% of its territory and must support some 600,000 internally displaced persons as a result of the conflict. Corruption is ubiquitous, and the government has been accused of authoritarianism. Although the poverty rate has been reduced in recent years, the promise of widespread wealth from development of Azerbaijan's energy sector remains largely unfulfilled.
GeographyAzerbaijan
Location:
Southwestern Asia, bordering the Caspian Sea, between Iran andRussia, with a small European portion north of the Caucasus range
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Asia
Area:
total: 86,600 sq km land: 86,100 sq km water: 500 sq km note: includes the exclave of Naxcivan Autonomous Republic and the Nagorno-Karabakh region; the region's autonomy was abolished by Azerbaijani Supreme Soviet on 26 November 1991
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Maine
Land boundaries:
total: 2,013 km border countries: Armenia (with Azerbaijan-proper) 566 km, Armenia (with Azerbaijan-Naxcivan exclave) 221 km, Georgia 322 km, Iran (with Azerbaijan-proper) 432 km, Iran (with Azerbaijan-Naxcivan exclave) 179 km, Russia 284 km, Turkey 9 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked); note - Azerbaijan borders the Caspian Sea (713 km)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
dry, semiarid steppe
Terrain:
large, flat Kur-Araz Ovaligi (Kura-Araks Lowland) (much of it below sea level) with Great Caucasus Mountains to the north, Qarabag Yaylasi (Karabakh Upland) in west; Baku lies on Abseron Yasaqligi (Apsheron Peninsula) that juts into Caspian Sea
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caspian Sea -28 m highest point: Bazarduzu Dagi 4,485 m
Natural resources:
petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, nonferrous metals, bauxite
Land use:
arable land: 20.62% permanent crops: 2.61% other: 76.77% (2005)
Irrigated land:
14,550 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
30.3 cu km (1997)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 17.25 cu km/yr (5%/28%/68%) per capita: 2,051 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
droughts
Environment - current issues:
local scientists consider the Abseron Yasaqligi (Apsheron Peninsula) (including Baku and Sumqayit) and the Caspian Sea to be the ecologically most devastated area in the world because of severe air, soil, and water pollution; soil pollution results from oil spills, from the use of DDT pesticide, and from toxic defoliants used in the production of cotton
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
both the main area of the country and the Naxcivan exclave are landlocked
PeopleAzerbaijan
Population:
8,177,717 (July 2008 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 24.6% (male 1,061,318/female 947,607) 15-64 years: 68.6% (male 2,753,277/female 2,855,406) 65 years and over: 6.8% (male 208,293/female 351,816) (2008 est.)
Median age:
total: 27.9 years male: 26.3 years female: 29.7 years (2008 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.723% (2008 est.)
Birth rate:
17.52 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate:
8.32 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Net migration rate:
-1.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.14 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.12 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 56.43 deaths/1,000 live births male: 62.09 deaths/1,000 live births female: 49.98 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 66.31 years male: 62.2 years female: 71 years (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.05 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
1,400 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 100 (2001 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Azerbaijani(s) adjective: Azerbaijani
Ethnic groups:
Azeri 90.6%, Dagestani 2.2%, Russian 1.8%, Armenian 1.5%, other 3.9% (1999 census) note: almost all Armenians live in the separatist Nagorno-Karabakh region
Religions:
Muslim 93.4%, Russian Orthodox 2.5%, Armenian Orthodox 2.3%, other 1.8% (1995 est.) note: religious affiliation is still nominal in Azerbaijan; percentages for actual practicing adherents are much lower
Languages:
Azerbaijani (Azeri) 90.3%, Lezgi 2.2%, Russian 1.8%, Armenian 1.5%, other 3.3%, unspecified 1% (1999 census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98.8% male: 99.5% female: 98.2% (1999 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 11 years male: 11 years female: 11 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
2.1% of GDP (2006)
GovernmentAzerbaijan
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Azerbaijan conventional short form: Azerbaijan local long form: Azarbaycan Respublikasi local short form: Azarbaycan former: Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Baku (Baki, Baky) geographic coordinates: 40 23 N, 49 52 E time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Administrative divisions:
59 rayons (rayonlar; rayon - singular), 11 cities (saharlar; sahar -singular), 1 autonomous republic (muxtar respublika)rayons: Abseron Rayonu, Agcabadi Rayonu, Agdam Rayonu, Agdas Rayonu,Agstafa Rayonu, Agsu Rayonu, Astara Rayonu, Balakan Rayonu, BardaRayonu, Beylaqan Rayonu, Bilasuvar Rayonu, Cabrayil Rayonu,Calilabad Rayonu, Daskasan Rayonu, Davaci Rayonu, Fuzuli Rayonu,Gadabay Rayonu, Goranboy Rayonu, Goycay Rayonu, Haciqabul Rayonu,Imisli Rayonu, Ismayilli Rayonu, Kalbacar Rayonu, Kurdamir Rayonu,Lacin Rayonu, Lankaran Rayonu, Lerik Rayonu, Masalli Rayonu,Neftcala Rayonu, Oguz Rayonu, Qabala Rayonu, Qax Rayonu, QazaxRayonu, Qobustan Rayonu, Quba Rayonu, Qubadli Rayonu, Qusar Rayonu,Saatli Rayonu, Sabirabad Rayonu, Saki Rayonu, Salyan Rayonu, SamaxiRayonu, Samkir Rayonu, Samux Rayonu, Siyazan Rayonu, Susa Rayonu,Tartar Rayonu, Tovuz Rayonu, Ucar Rayonu, Xacmaz Rayonu, XanlarRayonu, Xizi Rayonu, Xocali Rayonu, Xocavand Rayonu, YardimliRayonu, Yevlax Rayonu, Zangilan Rayonu, Zaqatala Rayonu, ZardabRayonucities: Ali Bayramli Sahari, Baki Sahari, Ganca Sahari, LankaranSahari, Mingacevir Sahari, Naftalan Sahari, Saki Sahari, SumqayitSahari, Susa Sahari, Xankandi Sahari, Yevlax Sahariautonomous republic: Naxcivan Muxtar Respublikasi
Independence:
30 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday:
Founding of the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan, 28 May (1918)
Constitution:
adopted 12 November 1995
Legal system:
based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Ilham ALIYEV (since 31 October 2003) head of government: Prime Minister Artur RASIZADE (since 4 November 2003); First Deputy Prime Minister Yaqub EYYUBOV (since June 2006) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president and confirmed by the National Assembly elections: president elected by popular vote to a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 15 October 2008 (next to be held in October 2013); prime minister and first deputy prime minister appointed by the president and confirmed by the National Assembly election results: Ilham ALIYEV reelected president; percent of vote - Ilham ALIYEV 88.7%, Igbal AGHAZADE 2.9%, five other candidates with smaller percentages note: several political parties boycotted the election due to unfair conditions; OSCE observers concluded that the election did not meet international standards
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Milli Mejlis (125 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 6 November 2005 (next to be held in November 2010) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Yeni 58, Azadliq coalition 8, CSP 2, Motherland 2, other parties with single seats 9, independents 42, undetermined 4
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
Azadliq (Freedom) coalition (Popular Front Party, Liberal Party,Citizens' Development Party); Azerbaijan Democratic Party or ADP[Sardar JALALOGLU]; Azerbaijan Democratic Reforms Party (ADRP) YouthMovement [Ramin HAJILI]; Azerbaijan Popular Front or APF, now splitin two [Ali KARIMLI, leader of "Reform" APF party; MirmahmudMIRALI-OGLU, leader of "Classic" APF party]; Azerbaijan Public Forum[Eldar NAMAZOV]; Citizens' Development Party [Ali ALIYEV]; CivilSolidarity Party or CSP [Sabir RUSTAMKHANLY]; Dalga Youth Movement[Vafa JAFAROVA]; Green Party [Mais GULALIYEV and Tarana MAMMADOVA];Hope (Umid) Party [Iqbal AGAZADE]; Ireli Youth Movement [JeyhunOSMANLI, Roya TALIBOVA, Farhad MAMMADOV, Elnara GARIBOVA, ElnurMAMMADOV, Ziya ALIYEV]; Justice Party [Ilyas ISMAILOV]; LiberalParty of Azerbaijan [Lala Shovkat HACIYEVA]; Magam Youth Movement[Emin HUSEYNOV]; Motherland Party [Fazail AGAMALI]; Musavat(Equality) [Isa GAMBAR, chairman]; Musavat Party Youth Movement[Elnur MAMMADLI]; National Democratic Party or Grey Wolves(Nationalist, Pan-Turkic) [Iskender HAMIDOV]; Open Society Party[Rasul GULIYEV, in exile in the US]; Party for National Independenceof Azerbaijan or PNIA [Ayaz RUSTAMOV]; Popular Front Party YouthMovement [Seymur KHAZIYEV]; Social Democratic Party of Azerbaijan orSDP [Araz ALIZADE and Ayaz MUTALIBOV (in exile)]; TurkishNationalist Party [Vugar BAYTURAN]; United Azerbaijan Party [KarrarABILOV]; United Azerbaijan National Unity Party [Hajibaba AZIMOV];United Party [Tahir KARIMLI]; Yeni (New) Azerbaijan Party [PresidentIlham ALIYEV]; Yeni Azerbaijan Party Youth Movement [Ramil HASANOV];Yox (No) Youth Movement [Ali ISMAYILOV]note: opposition parties regularly factionalize and form new parties;
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Armenian Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (self-proclaimed); Karabakh Liberation Organization; Sadval, Lezgin movement; Talysh independence movement; Union of Pro-Azerbaijani Forces or UPAF
International organization participation:
ADB, BSEC, CE, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, GCTU, GUAM, IAEA, IBRD,ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM (observer), OAS(observer), OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SECI (observer), UN, UNCTAD,UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Yashar ALIYEV chancery: 2741 34th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 337-3500 FAX: [1] (202) 337-5911 Consulate(s) general: Los Angeles
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Anne E. DERSE embassy: 83 Azadlig Prospecti, Baku AZ1007 mailing address: American Embassy Baku, US Department of State, 7050 Baku Place, Washington, DC 20521-7050 telephone: [994] (12) 4980-335 through 337 FAX: [994] (12) 4656-671
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), red, and green; a crescent and eight-pointed star in white are centered in red band
EconomyAzerbaijan
Economy - overview:
Azerbaijan's high economic growth in 2006 and 2007 is attributable to large and growing oil exports. Azerbaijan's oil production declined through 1997, but has registered an increase every year since. Negotiation of production-sharing arrangements (PSAs) with foreign firms, which have committed $60 billion to long-term oilfield development, should generate the funds needed to spur future industrial development. Oil production under the first of these PSAs, with the Azerbaijan International Operating Company, began in November 1997. A consortium of Western oil companies began pumping 1 million barrels a day from a large offshore field in early 2006, through a $4 billion pipeline it built from Baku to Turkey's Mediterranean port of Ceyhan. By 2010 revenues from this project will double the country's current GDP. Azerbaijan shares all the formidable problems of the former Soviet republics in making the transition from a command to a market economy, but its considerable energy resources brighten its long-term prospects. Baku has only recently begun making progress on economic reform, and old economic ties and structures are slowly being replaced. Several other obstacles impede Azerbaijan's economic progress: the need for stepped up foreign investment in the non-energy sector, the continuing conflict with Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, pervasive corruption, and elevated inflation. Trade with Russia and the other former Soviet republics is declining in importance, while trade is building with Turkey and the nations of Europe. Long-term prospects will depend on world oil prices, the location of new oil and gas pipelines in the region, and Azerbaijan's ability to manage its energy wealth.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$64.66 billion (2007 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$31.32 billion (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
23.4% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$8,000 (2007 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 6.2% industry: 63.3% services: 30.5% (2007 est.)
Labor force:
5.243 million (2007 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 41% industry: 7% services: 52% (2001)
Unemployment rate:
1% official rate (2007 est.)
Population below poverty line:
24% (2005 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.1% highest 10%: 29.5% (2001)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
36.5 (2001)
Investment (gross fixed):
20% of GDP (2007 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $6.755 billion expenditures: $8.572 billion (2007 est.)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Public debt:
6.7% of GDP (2007 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
16.7% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
13% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
19.13% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$4.261 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$2.593 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$5.726 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
cotton, grain, rice, grapes, fruit, vegetables, tea, tobacco; cattle, pigs, sheep, goats
Industries:
petroleum and natural gas, petroleum products, oilfield equipment; steel, iron ore; cement; chemicals and petrochemicals; textiles
Industrial production growth rate:
25% (2007 est.)
Electricity - production:
23.8 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - consumption:
27.5 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - exports:
800 million kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
500 million kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 89.7% hydro: 10.3% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Oil - production:
1.099 million bbl/day (2008 est.)
Oil - consumption:
160,000 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - exports:
795,600 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - imports:
4,267 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - proved reserves:
7 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)
Natural gas - production:
9.77 billion cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
9.77 billion cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2005)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
849.5 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)
Current account balance:
$9.019 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
$21.27 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
oil and gas 90%, machinery, cotton, foodstuffs
Exports - partners:
Turkey 17.4%, Italy 15.5%, Russia 8.7%, Iran 7.2%, Indonesia 6.4%,Israel 6.1%, Georgia 5.7%, US 4.8%, France 4.3% (2007)
Imports:
$6.045 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, oil products, foodstuffs, metals, chemicals
Imports - partners:
Russia 17.6%, Turkey 10.9%, Germany 8.2%, Ukraine 8.2%, UK 7.2%,Japan 5.2%, China 4.9%, US 4.7% (2007)
Economic aid - recipient:
ODA, $223.4 million (2005 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$4.273 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$2.439 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$7.829 billion (2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$4.912 billion (2007 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
Currency (code):
Azerbaijani manat (AZN)
Currency code:
Exchange rates:
Azerbaijani manats (AZN) per US dollar - 0.8581 (2007), 0.8934 (2006), 4,727.1 (2005), 4,913.48 (2004), 4,910.73 (2003) note: on 1 January 2006 Azerbaijan revalued its currency, with 5,000 old manats equal to 1 new manat
CommunicationsAzerbaijan
Telephones - main lines in use:
1.254 million (2007)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
4.3 million (2007)
Telephone system:
general assessment: inadequate; requires considerable expansion and modernization; teledensity of 15 main lines per 100 persons is low; mobile-cellular penetration is increasing and is currently about 50 telephones per 100 persons domestic: fixed-line telephony and a broad range of other telecom services are controlled by a state-owned telecommunications monopoly and growth has been stagnant; more competition exists in the mobile-cellular market with three providers in 2006; satellite service connects Baku to a modern switch in its exclave of Naxcivan international: country code - 994; the old Soviet system of cable and microwave is still serviceable; satellite earth stations - 2 (2007)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 10, FM 17, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:
175,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
2 (1997)
Televisions:
170,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.az
Internet hosts:
6,995 (2008)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
2 (2000)
Internet users:
1.036 million (2007)
TransportationAzerbaijan
Airports:
35 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 27 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 13 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 2 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 7 (2007)
Heliports:
1 (2007)
Pipelines:
gas 3,857 km; oil 2,436 km (2007)
Railways:
total: 2,122 km broad gauge: 2,122 km 1.520-m gauge (1,278 km electrified) (2006)
Roadways:
total: 59,141 km paved: 29,210 km unpaved: 29,931 km (2004)
Merchant marine:
total: 89 by type: cargo 26, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 9, petroleum tanker 46, roll on/roll off 3, specialized tanker 3 registered in other countries: 3 (Malta 2, Panama 1) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Baku (Baki)
MilitaryAzerbaijan
Military branches:
Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces (2008)
Military service age and obligation:
men between 18 and 35 are liable for military service; 18 years of age for voluntary military service; length of military service is 18 months and 12 months for university graduates (2006)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,278,888 females age 16-49: 2,291,770 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,696,167 females age 16-49: 1,923,556 (2008 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 94,402 female: 89,686 (2008 est.)
Military expenditures:
2.6% of GDP (2005 est.)
Transnational IssuesAzerbaijan
Disputes - international:
Armenia supports ethnic Armenian secessionists in Nagorno-Karabakh and since the early 1990s has militarily occupied 16% of Azerbaijan; over 800,000 mostly ethnic Azerbaijanis were driven from the occupied lands and Armenia; about 230,000 ethnic Armenians were driven from their homes in Azerbaijan into Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh; Azerbaijan seeks transit route through Armenia to connect to Naxcivan exclave; Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) continues to mediate dispute; Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Russia have ratified Caspian seabed delimitation treaties based on equidistance, while Iran continues to insist on an even one-fifth allocation and challenges Azerbaijan's hydrocarbon exploration in disputed waters; bilateral talks continue with Turkmenistan on dividing the seabed and contested oilfields in the middle of the Caspian; Azerbaijan and Georgia continue to discuss the alignment of their boundary at certain crossing areas
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 2,400 (Russia) IDPs: 580,000-690,000 (conflict with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh) (2007)
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Azerbaijan is primarily a source and transit country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor; women and some children from Azerbaijan are trafficked to Turkey and the UAE for the purpose of sexual exploitation; men and boys are trafficked to Russia for the purpose of forced labor; Azerbaijan serves as a transit country for victims from Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Moldova trafficked to Turkey and the UAE for sexual exploitation tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Azerbaijan is on the Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to combat trafficking in persons, particularly efforts to investigate, prosecute, and punish traffickers; to address complicity among law enforcement personnel; and to adequately identify and protect victims in Azerbaijan; the government has yet to develop a much-needed mechanism to identify potential trafficking victims and refer them to safety and care; poor treatment of trafficking victims in courtrooms continues to be a problem (2008)
Illicit drugs:
limited illicit cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy, mostly for CIS consumption; small government eradication program; transit point for Southwest Asian opiates bound for Russia and to a lesser extent the rest of Europe
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008
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@Bahamas, The
IntroductionBahamas, The
Background:
Lucayan Indians inhabited the islands when Christopher COLUMBUS first set foot in the New World on San Salvador in 1492. British settlement of the islands began in 1647; the islands became a colony in 1783. Since attaining independence from the UK in 1973, The Bahamas have prospered through tourism and international banking and investment management. Because of its geography, the country is a major transshipment point for illegal drugs, particularly shipments to the US and Europe, and its territory is used for smuggling illegal migrants into the US.
GeographyBahamas, The
Location:
Caribbean, chain of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Florida, northeast of Cuba
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 13,940 sq km land: 10,070 sq km water: 3,870 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Connecticut
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
3,542 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical marine; moderated by warm waters of Gulf Stream
Terrain:
long, flat coral formations with some low rounded hills
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Alvernia, on Cat Island 63 m
Natural resources:
salt, aragonite, timber, arable land
Land use:
arable land: 0.58% permanent crops: 0.29% other: 99.13% (2005)
Irrigated land:
10 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
Natural hazards:
hurricanes and other tropical storms cause extensive flood and wind damage
Environment - current issues:
coral reef decay; solid waste disposal
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
strategic location adjacent to US and Cuba; extensive island chain of which 30 are inhabited
PeopleBahamas, The
Population:
307,451 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2008 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 26.4% (male 40,608/female 40,506) 15-64 years: 66.9% (male 101,150/female 104,457) 65 years and over: 6.7% (male 8,472/female 12,258) (2008 est.)
Median age:
total: 28.4 years male: 27.6 years female: 29.2 years (2008 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.57% (2008 est.)
Birth rate:
17.06 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate:
9.22 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Net migration rate:
-2.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 23.67 deaths/1,000 live births male: 28.89 deaths/1,000 live births female: 18.34 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 65.72 years male: 62.5 years female: 69 years (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.13 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
3% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
5,600 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 200 (2003 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Bahamian(s) adjective: Bahamian
Ethnic groups:
black 85%, white 12%, Asian and Hispanic 3%
Religions:
Baptist 35.4%, Anglican 15.1%, Roman Catholic 13.5%, Pentecostal 8.1%, Church of God 4.8%, Methodist 4.2%, other Christian 15.2%, none or unspecified 2.9%, other 0.8% (2000 census)
Languages:
English (official), Creole (among Haitian immigrants)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 95.6% male: 94.7% female: 96.5% (2003 est.)
Education expenditures:
3.6% of GDP (2000)
GovernmentBahamas, The
Country name:
conventional long form: Commonwealth of The Bahamas conventional short form: The Bahamas
Government type:
constitutional parliamentary democracy
Capital:
name: Nassau geographic coordinates: 25 05 N, 77 21 W time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins second Sunday in March; ends first Sunday in November
Administrative divisions:
21 districts; Acklins and Crooked Islands, Bimini, Cat Island,Exuma, Freeport, Fresh Creek, Governor's Harbour, Green Turtle Cay,Harbour Island, High Rock, Inagua, Kemps Bay, Long Island, MarshHarbour, Mayaguana, New Providence, Nichollstown and Berry Islands,Ragged Island, Rock Sound, Sandy Point, San Salvador and Rum Cay
Independence:
10 July 1973 (from UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 10 July (1973)
Constitution:
10 July 1973
Legal system:
based on English common law
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Arthur D. HANNA (since 1 February 2006) head of government: Prime Minister Hubert A. INGRAHAM (since 4 May 2007) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the prime minister's recommendation elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; the prime minister recommends the deputy prime minister
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (16 seats; members appointed by the governor general upon the advice of the prime minister and the opposition leader to serve five-year terms) and the House of Assembly (41 seats; members elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms); the government may dissolve the Parliament and call elections at any time elections: last held 2 May 2007 (next to be held by May 2012) election results: percent of vote by party - FNM 49.86%, PLP 47.02%; seats by party - FNM 23, PLP 18
Judicial branch:
Privy Council in London; Courts of Appeal; Supreme (lower) Court;Magistrates' Courts
Political parties and leaders:
Free National Movement or FNM [Hubert INGRAHAM]; Progressive LiberalParty or PLP [Perry CHRISTIE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Friends of the Environment other: trade unions
International organization participation:
ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory),ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol,IOC, IOM, ITSO, ITU, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW (signatory),UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Cornelius A. SMITH chancery: 2220 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 319-2660 FAX: [1] (202) 319-2668 consulate(s) general: Miami, New York