Trinidad and TobagoTrinidad and Tobago has earned a reputation asan excellent investment site for international businesses and hasone of the highest growth rates and per capita incomes in LatinAmerica. Recent growth has been fueled by investments in liquefiednatural gas (LNG), petrochemicals, and steel. Additionalpetrochemical, aluminum, and plastics projects are in various stagesof planning. Trinidad and Tobago is the leading Caribbean producerof oil and gas, and its economy is heavily dependent upon theseresources but it also supplies manufactured goods, notably food andbeverages, as well as cement to the Caribbean region. Oil and gasaccount for about 40% of GDP and 80% of exports, but only 5% ofemployment. The country is also a regional financial center, andtourism is a growing sector, although it is not proportionately asimportant as in many other Caribbean islands. The economy benefitsfrom a growing trade surplus. Economic growth reached 12.6% in 2006and 5.5% in 2007 as prices for oil, petrochemicals, and LNG remainedhigh, and as foreign direct investment continued to grow to supportexpanded capacity in the energy sector.
TunisiaTunisia has a diverse economy, with important agricultural,mining, tourism, and manufacturing sectors. Governmental control ofeconomic affairs while still heavy has gradually lessened over thepast decade with increasing privatization, simplification of the taxstructure, and a prudent approach to debt. Progressive socialpolicies also have helped raise living conditions in Tunisiarelative to the region. Real growth, which averaged almost 5% overthe past decade, reached 6.3% in 2007 because of development innon-textile manufacturing, a recovery in agricultural production,and strong growth in the services sector. However, Tunisia will needto reach even higher growth levels to create sufficient employmentopportunities for an already large number of unemployed as well asthe growing population of university graduates. Broaderprivatization, further liberalization of the investment code toincrease foreign investment, improvements in government efficiency,and reduction of the trade deficit are among the challenges ahead.
TurkeyTurkey's dynamic economy is a complex mix of modern industryand commerce along with a traditional agriculture sector that stillaccounts for more than 35% of employment. It has a strong andrapidly growing private sector, yet the state still plays a majorrole in basic industry, banking, transport, and communication. Thelargest industrial sector is textiles and clothing, which accountsfor one-third of industrial employment; it faces stiff competitionin international markets with the end of the global quota system.However, other sectors, notably the automotive and electronicsindustries, are rising in importance within Turkey's export mix.Real GNP growth has exceeded 6% in many years, but this strongexpansion has been interrupted by sharp declines in output in 1994,1999, and 2001. The economy is turning around with theimplementation of economic reforms, and 2004 GDP growth reached 9%,followed by roughly 5% annual growth from 2005-07. Inflation fell to7.7% in 2005 - a 30-year low - but climbed back to 8.5% in 2007.Despite the strong economic gains from 2002-07, which were largelydue to renewed investor interest in emerging markets, IMF backing,and tighter fiscal policy, the economy is still burdened by a highcurrent account deficit and high external debt. Further economic andjudicial reforms and prospective EU membership are expected to boostforeign direct investment. The stock value of FDI currently standsat about $85 billion. Privatization sales are currently approaching$21 billion. Oil began to flow through the Baku-Tblisi-Ceyhanpipeline in May 2006, marking a major milestone that will bring upto 1 million barrels per day from the Caspian to market. In 2007,Turkish financial markets weathered significant domestic politicalturmoil, including turbulence sparked by controversy over theselection of former Foreign Minister Abdullah GUL as Turkey's 11thpresident. Economic fundamentals are sound, marked by strongeconomic growth and foreign direct investment. Turkey's high currentaccount deficit leaves the economy vulnerable to destabilizingshifts in investor confidence, however.
TurkmenistanTurkmenistan is a largely desert country with intensiveagriculture in irrigated oases and large gas and oil resources.One-half of its irrigated land is planted in cotton; formerly it wasthe world's 10th-largest producer. Poor harvests in recent yearshave led to an almost 50% decline in cotton exports. With anauthoritarian ex-Communist regime in power and a tribally basedsocial structure, Turkmenistan has taken a cautious approach toeconomic reform, hoping to use gas and cotton sales to sustain itsinefficient economy. Privatization goals remain limited. From1998-2005, Turkmenistan suffered from the continued lack of adequateexport routes for natural gas and from obligations on extensiveshort-term external debt. At the same time, however, total exportsrose by an average of roughly 15% per year from 2003-07, largelybecause of higher international oil and gas prices. Overallprospects in the near future are discouraging because of widespreadinternal poverty, a poor educational system, government misuse ofoil and gas revenues, and Ashgabat's reluctance to adoptmarket-oriented reforms. In the past, Turkmenistan's economicstatistics were state secrets. The new government has established aState Agency for Statistics, but GDP numbers and other figures aresubject to wide margins of error. In particular, the rate of GDPgrowth is uncertain. Since his election, President BERDIMUHAMEDOWhas sought to improve the health and education systems, orderedunification of the country's dual currency exchange rate, begundecreasing state subsidies for gasoline, signed an agreement tobuild a gas line to China, and created a special tourism zone on theCaspian Sea. All of these moves hint that the new post-NYYAZOWgovernment will work to create a friendlier foreign investmentenvironment.
Turks and Caicos IslandsThe Turks and Caicos economy is based ontourism, offshore financial services, and fishing. Most capitalgoods and food for domestic consumption are imported. The US is theleading source of tourists, accounting for more than three-quartersof the 175,000 visitors that arrived in 2004. Major sources ofgovernment revenue also include fees from offshore financialactivities and customs receipts.
TuvaluTuvalu consists of a densely populated, scattered group ofnine coral atolls with poor soil. The country has no known mineralresources and few exports. Subsistence farming and fishing are theprimary economic activities. Fewer than 1,000 tourists, on average,visit Tuvalu annually. Job opportunities are scarce and publicsector workers make up the majority of those employed. About 15% ofthe adult male population work as seamen on merchant ships abroadand remittances are a vital source of income, contributing around $4million in 2006. Substantial income is received annually from theTuvalu Trust Fund (TTF), an international trust fund established in1987 by Australia, NZ, and the UK and supported also by Japan andSouth Korea. Thanks to wise investments and conservativewithdrawals, this fund grew from an initial $17 million to anestimated value of $77 million in 2006. The TFF contributed nearly$9 million towards the government budget in 2006 and is an importantcushion for meeting shortfalls in the government's budget. The USGovernment is also a major revenue source for Tuvalu because ofpayments from a 1988 treaty on fisheries. In an effort to ensurefinancial stability and sustainability, the government is pursuingpublic sector reforms, including privatization of some governmentfunctions and personnel cuts. Tuvalu also derives royalties from thelease of its ".tv" Internet domain name, with revenue of more than$2 million in 2006. A minor source of government revenue comes fromthe sale of stamps and coins. With merchandise exports only afraction of merchandise imports, continued reliance must be placedon fishing and telecommunications license fees, remittances fromoverseas workers, official transfers, and income from overseasinvestments. Growing income disparities and the vulnerability of thecountry to climatic change are among leading concerns for the nation.
UgandaUganda has substantial natural resources, including fertilesoils, regular rainfall, and sizable mineral deposits of copper,cobalt, gold, and other minerals. Agriculture is the most importantsector of the economy, employing over 80% of the work force. Coffeeaccounts for the bulk of export revenues. Since 1986, the government- with the support of foreign countries and international agencies -has acted to rehabilitate and stabilize the economy by undertakingcurrency reform, raising producer prices on export crops, increasingprices of petroleum products, and improving civil service wages. Thepolicy changes are especially aimed at dampening inflation andboosting production and export earnings. During 1990-2001, theeconomy turned in a solid performance based on continued investmentin the rehabilitation of infrastructure, improved incentives forproduction and exports, reduced inflation, gradually improveddomestic security, and the return of exiled Indian-Ugandanentrepreneurs. Growth continues to be solid, despite variability inthe price of coffee, Uganda's principal export, and a consistentupturn in Uganda's export markets. In 2000, Uganda qualified forenhanced Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) debt relief worth$1.3 billion and Paris Club debt relief worth $145 million. Theseamounts combined with the original HIPC debt relief added up toabout $2 billion.
UkraineAfter Russia, the Ukrainian republic was far and away themost important economic component of the former Soviet Union,producing about four times the output of the next-ranking republic.Its fertile black soil generated more than one-fourth of Sovietagricultural output, and its farms provided substantial quantitiesof meat, milk, grain, and vegetables to other republics. Likewise,its diversified heavy industry supplied the unique equipment (forexample, large diameter pipes) and raw materials to industrial andmining sites (vertical drilling apparatus) in other regions of theformer USSR. Shortly after independence was ratified in December1991, the Ukrainian Government liberalized most prices and erected alegal framework for privatization, but widespread resistance toreform within the government and the legislature soon stalled reformefforts and led to some backtracking. Output by 1999 had fallen toless than 40% of the 1991 level. Ukraine's dependence on Russia forenergy supplies and the lack of significant structural reform havemade the Ukrainian economy vulnerable to external shocks. Ukrainedepends on imports to meet about three-fourths of its annual oil andnatural gas requirements. A dispute with Russia over pricing in late2005 and early 2006 led to a temporary gas cut-off; Ukraineconcluded a deal with Russia in January 2006 that almost doubled theprice Ukraine pays for Russian gas. Outside institutions -particularly the IMF - have encouraged Ukraine to quicken the paceand scope of reforms. Ukrainian Government officials eliminated mosttax and customs privileges in a March 2005 budget law, bringing moreeconomic activity out of Ukraine's large shadow economy, but moreimprovements are needed, including fighting corruption, developingcapital markets, and improving the legislative framework. Ukraine'seconomy remains buoyant despite political turmoil between the PrimeMinister and President. Real GDP growth reached about 7% in 2006-07,fueled by high global prices for steel - Ukraine's top export - andby strong domestic consumption, spurred by rising pensions andwages. Although the economy is likely to expand in 2008, long-termgrowth could be threatened by the government's plans to reinstatetax, trade, and customs privileges and to maintain restrictive grainexport quotas.
United Arab EmiratesThe UAE has an open economy with a high percapita income and a sizable annual trade surplus. Despite largelysuccessful efforts at economic diversification, nearly 40% of GDP isstill directly based on oil and gas output. Since the discovery ofoil in the UAE more than 30 years ago, the UAE has undergone aprofound transformation from an impoverished region of small desertprincipalities to a modern state with a high standard of living. Thegovernment has increased spending on job creation and infrastructureexpansion and is opening up utilities to greater private sectorinvolvement. In April 2004, the UAE signed a Trade and InvestmentFramework Agreement with Washington and in November 2004 agreed toundertake negotiations toward a Free Trade Agreement with the US.The country's Free Trade Zones - offering 100% foreign ownership andzero taxes - are helping to attract foreign investors. Higher oilrevenue, strong liquidity, housing shortages, and cheap credit in2005-07 led to a surge in asset prices (shares and real estate) andconsumer inflation. Rising prices are increasing the operating costsfor businesses in the UAE and adversely impacting governmentemployees and others on fixed incomes. Dependence on oil and a largeexpatriate workforce are significant long-term challenges. The UAE'sstrategic plan for the next few years focuses on diversification andcreating more opportunities for nationals through improved educationand increased private sector employment.
United KingdomThe UK, a leading trading power and financial center,is one of the quintet of trillion dollar economies of WesternEurope. Over the past two decades, the government has greatlyreduced public ownership and contained the growth of social welfareprograms. Agriculture is intensive, highly mechanized, and efficientby European standards, producing about 60% of food needs with lessthan 2% of the labor force. The UK has large coal, natural gas, andoil reserves; primary energy production accounts for 10% of GDP, oneof the highest shares of any industrial nation. Services,particularly banking, insurance, and business services, account byfar for the largest proportion of GDP while industry continues todecline in importance. Since emerging from recession in 1992,Britain's economy has enjoyed the longest period of expansion onrecord; growth has remained in the 2-3% range since 2004, outpacingmost of Europe. The economy's strength has complicated the Laborgovernment's efforts to make a case for Britain to join the EuropeanEconomic and Monetary Union (EMU). Critics point out that theeconomy is doing well outside of EMU, and public opinion polls showa majority of Britons are opposed to the euro. The BROWN governmenthas been speeding up the improvement of education, health services,and affordable housing at a cost in higher taxes and a wideningpublic deficit.
United StatesThe US has the largest and most technologicallypowerful economy in the world, with a per capita GDP of $46,000. Inthis market-oriented economy, private individuals and business firmsmake most of the decisions, and the federal and state governmentsbuy needed goods and services predominantly in the privatemarketplace. US business firms enjoy greater flexibility than theircounterparts in Western Europe and Japan in decisions to expandcapital plant, to lay off surplus workers, and to develop newproducts. At the same time, they face higher barriers to enter theirrivals' home markets than foreign firms face entering US markets. USfirms are at or near the forefront in technological advances,especially in computers and in medical, aerospace, and militaryequipment; their advantage has narrowed since the end of World WarII. The onrush of technology largely explains the gradualdevelopment of a "two-tier labor market" in which those at thebottom lack the education and the professional/technical skills ofthose at the top and, more and more, fail to get comparable payraises, health insurance coverage, and other benefits. Since 1975,practically all the gains in household income have gone to the top20% of households. The response to the terrorist attacks of 11September 2001 showed the remarkable resilience of the economy. Thewar in March-April 2003 between a US-led coalition and Iraq, and thesubsequent occupation of Iraq, required major shifts in nationalresources to the military. The rise in GDP in 2004-07 wasundergirded by substantial gains in labor productivity. HurricaneKatrina caused extensive damage in the Gulf Coast region in August2005, but had a small impact on overall GDP growth for the year.Soaring oil prices in 2005-2007 threatened inflation andunemployment, yet the economy continued to grow through year-end2007. Imported oil accounts for about two-thirds of US consumption.Long-term problems include inadequate investment in economicinfrastructure, rapidly rising medical and pension costs of an agingpopulation, sizable trade and budget deficits, and stagnation offamily income in the lower economic groups. The merchandise tradedeficit reached a record $847 billion in 2007. Together, theseproblems caused a marked reduction in the value and status of thedollar worldwide in 2007.
United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refugesno economic activity
UruguayUruguay's economy is characterized by an export-orientedagricultural sector, a well-educated work force, and high levels ofsocial spending. After averaging growth of 5% annually during1996-98, in 1999-2002 the economy suffered a major downturn,stemming largely from the spillover effects of the economic problemsof its large neighbors, Argentina and Brazil. For instance, in2001-02 Argentina made massive withdrawals of dollars deposited inUruguayan banks, which led to a plunge in the Uruguayan peso and amassive rise in unemployment. Total GDP in these four years droppedby nearly 20%, with 2002 the worst year due to the banking crisis.The unemployment rate rose to nearly 20% in 2002, inflation surged,and the burden of external debt doubled. Cooperation with the IMFhelped stem the damage. Uruguay in 2007 improved its debt profile bypaying off $1.1 billion in IMF debt, and continues to follow theorthodox economic plan set by the Fund in 2005. The construction ofa pulp mill in Fray Bentos, which represents the largest foreigndirect investment in Uruguay's history at $1.2 billion, came onlinein November 2007 and is expected to add 1.6% to GDP and boostalready rising exports. The economy has grown strongly since 2004 asa result of high commodity prices for Uruguayan exports, a strongpeso, growth in the region, and low international interest rates.
UzbekistanUzbekistan is a dry, landlocked country of which 11%consists of intensely cultivated, irrigated river valleys. More than60% of its population lives in densely populated rural communities.Uzbekistan is now the world's second-largest cotton exporter andfifth largest producer; it relies heavily on cotton production asthe major source of export earnings. Other major export earnersinclude gold, natural gas, and oil. Following independence inSeptember 1991, the government sought to prop up its Soviet-stylecommand economy with subsidies and tight controls on production andprices. While aware of the need to improve the investment climate,the government still sponsors measures that often increase, notdecrease, its control over business decisions. A sharp increase inthe inequality of income distribution has hurt the lower ranks ofsociety since independence. In 2003, the government accepted ArticleVIII obligations under the IMF, providing for full currencyconvertibility. However, strict currency controls and tightening ofborders have lessened the effects of convertibility and have alsoled to some shortages that have further stifled economic activity.The Central Bank often delays or restricts convertibility,especially for consumer goods. Potential investment by Russia andChina in Uzbekistan's gas and oil industry may boost growthprospects. In November 2005, Russian President Vladimir PUTIN andUzbekistan President KARIMOV signed an "alliance," which includedprovisions for economic and business cooperation. Russian businesseshave shown increased interest in Uzbekistan, especially in mining,telecom, and oil and gas. In 2006, Uzbekistan took steps to rejointhe Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and the EurasianEconomic Community (EurASEC), both organizations dominated byRussia. Uzbek authorities have accused US and other foreigncompanies operating in Uzbekistan of violating Uzbek tax laws andhave frozen their assets.
VanuatuThis South Pacific island economy is based primarily onsmall-scale agriculture, which provides a living for 65% of thepopulation. Fishing, offshore financial services, and tourism, withmore than 60,000 visitors in 2005, are other mainstays of theeconomy. Mineral deposits are negligible; the country has no knownpetroleum deposits. A small light industry sector caters to thelocal market. Tax revenues come mainly from import duties. Economicdevelopment is hindered by dependence on relatively few commodityexports, vulnerability to natural disasters, and long distances frommain markets and between constituent islands. In response to foreignconcerns, the government has promised to tighten regulation of itsoffshore financial center. In mid-2002 the government stepped upefforts to boost tourism through improved air connections, resortdevelopment, and cruise ship facilities. Agriculture, especiallylivestock farming, is a second target for growth. Australia and NewZealand are the main suppliers of tourists and foreign aid.
VenezuelaVenezuela remains highly dependent on oil revenues, whichaccount for roughly 90% of export earnings, more than 50% of thefederal budget revenues, and around 30% of GDP. A nationwide strikebetween December 2002 and February 2003 had far-reaching economicconsequences - real GDP declined by around 9% in 2002 and 8% in 2003- but economic output since then has recovered strongly. Fueled byhigh oil prices, record government spending helped to boost GDP in2006 by about 9% and in 2007 by about 8%. This spending, combinedwith recent minimum wage hikes and improved access to domesticcredit, has created a consumption boom but has come at the cost ofhigher inflation-roughly 20 percent in 2007. Imports also havejumped significantly. Embolden by his December 2006 reelection,President Hugo CHAVEZ in 2007 nationalized firms in the petroleum,communications, and electricity sectors, which reduced foreigninfluence in the economy. Although voters in December 2007 rejectedCHAVEZ's proposed constitutional changes, CHAVEZ still hassignificant control of the economy and has indicated he intends tocontinue to consolidate and centralize authority over the economy byimplementing "21st Century Socialism."
VietnamVietnam is a densely-populated developing country that inthe last 30 years has had to recover from the ravages of war, theloss of financial support from the old Soviet Bloc, and therigidities of a centrally-planned economy. Economic stagnationmarked the period after reunification from 1975 to 1985. In 1986,the Sixth Party Congress approved a broad economic reform packagethat introduced market reforms and set the groundwork for Vietnam'simproved investment climate. Substantial progress was achieved from1986 to 1997 in moving forward from an extremely low level ofdevelopment and significantly reducing poverty. The 1997 Asianfinancial crisis highlighted the problems in the Vietnamese economyand temporarily allowed opponents of reform to slow progress towarda market-oriented economy. GDP growth averaged 6.8% per year from1997 to 2004 even against the background of the Asian financialcrisis and a global recession. Since 2001, Vietnamese authoritieshave reaffirmed their commitment to economic liberalization andinternational integration. They have moved to implement thestructural reforms needed to modernize the economy and to producemore competitive, export-driven industries. The economy grew 8.5% in2007. Vietnam's membership in the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) andentry 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 increased 900% from2001 to 2007. Vietnam joined the WTO in January 2007, following overa decade long negotiation process. WTO membership has providedVietnam an anchor to the global market and reinforced the domesticeconomic reform process. Among other benefits, accession allowsVietnam to take advantage of the phase-out of the Agreement onTextiles and Clothing, which eliminated quotas on textiles andclothing for WTO partners on 1 January 2005. Agriculture's share ofeconomic output has continued to shrink, from about 25% in 2000 toless than 20% in 2007. Deep poverty, defined as a percent of thepopulation living under $1 per day, has declined significantly andis now smaller than that of China, India, and the Philippines.Vietnam is working to create jobs to meet the challenge of a laborforce that is growing by more than one-and-a-half million peopleevery year. In an effort to stem high inflation which took off in2007, early in 2008 Vietnamese authorities began to raise benchmarkinterest rates and reserve requirements. Hanoi is targeting aneconomic growth rate of 7.5-8% during the next four years.
Virgin IslandsTourism is the primary economic activity, accountingfor 80% of GDP and employment. The islands hosted 2.6 millionvisitors in 2005. The manufacturing sector consists of petroleumrefining, textiles, electronics, pharmaceuticals, and watchassembly. One of the world's largest petroleum refineries is atSaint Croix. The agricultural sector is small, with most food beingimported. International business and financial services are smallbut growing components of the economy. The islands are vulnerable tosubstantial damage from storms. The government is working to improvefiscal discipline, to support construction projects in the privatesector, to expand tourist facilities, to reduce crime, and toprotect the environment.
Wake IslandEconomic activity is limited to providing services tomilitary personnel and contractors located on the island. All foodand manufactured goods must be imported.
Wallis and FutunaThe economy is limited to traditional subsistenceagriculture, with about 80% of labor force earnings from agriculture(coconuts and vegetables), livestock (mostly pigs), and fishing.About 4% of the population is employed in government. Revenues comefrom French Government subsidies, licensing of fishing rights toJapan and South Korea, import taxes, and remittances from expatriateworkers in New Caledonia.
West BankThe West Bank - the larger of the two areas comprising thePalestinian Authority (PA) - has experienced a general decline ineconomic conditions since the second intifada began in September2000. The downturn has been largely a result of Israeli closurepolicies - the imposition of closures and access restrictions inresponse to security concerns in Israel - which disrupted labor andtrading relationships. In 2001, and even more severely in 2002,Israeli military measures in PA areas resulted in the destruction ofcapital, the disruption of administrative structures, and widespreadbusiness closures. International aid of at least $1.14 billion tothe West Bank and Gaza Strip in 2004 prevented the complete collapseof the economy and allowed some reforms in the government'sfinancial operations. In 2005, high unemployment and limited tradeopportunities - due to continued closures both within the West Bankand externally - stymied growth. Israel's and the internationalcommunity's financial embargo of the PA when HAMAS ran the PA duringMarch 2006 - June 2007 has interrupted the provision of PA socialservices and the payment of PA salaries. Since June the Fayyadgovernment in the West Bank has restarted salary payments and theprovision of services but would be unable to operate absent highlevels of international assistance.
Western SaharaWestern Sahara depends on pastoral nomadism, fishing,and phosphate mining as the principal sources of income for thepopulation. The territory lacks sufficient rainfall for sustainableagricultural production, and most of the food for the urbanpopulation must be imported. Incomes in Western Sahara aresubstantially below the Moroccan level. The Moroccan Governmentcontrols all trade and other economic activities in Western Sahara.Morocco and the EU signed a four-year agreement in July 2006allowing European vessels to fish off the coast of Morocco,including the disputed waters off the coast of Western Sahara.Moroccan energy interests in 2001 signed contracts to explore foroil off the coast of Western Sahara, which has angered thePolisario. However, in 2006 the Polisario awarded similarexploration licenses in the disputed territory, which would comeinto force if Morocco and the Polisario resolve their dispute overWestern Sahara.
WorldGlobal output rose by 5.2% in 2007, led by China (11.4%),India (9.2%), and Russia (8.1%). The 14 other successor nations ofthe USSR and the other old Warsaw Pact nations again experiencedwidely divergent growth rates; the three Baltic nations continued asstrong performers, in the 8%-10% range of growth. From 2006 to 2007growth rates slowed in all the major industrial countries except forthe United Kingdom (3.1%). Analysts attribute the slowdown touncertainties in the financial markets and lowered consumerconfidence. Worldwide, nations varied widely in their growthresults. Externally, the nation-state, as a bedrockeconomic-political institution, is steadily losing control overinternational flows of people, goods, funds, and technology.Internally, the central government often finds its control overresources slipping as separatist regional movements - typicallybased on ethnicity - gain momentum, e.g., in many of the successorstates of the former Soviet Union, in the former Yugoslavia, inIndia, in Iraq, in Indonesia, and in Canada. Externally, the centralgovernment is losing decisionmaking powers to international bodies,notably the EU. In Western Europe, governments face the difficultpolitical problem of channeling resources away from welfare programsin order to increase investment and strengthen incentives to seekemployment. The addition of 80 million people each year to analready overcrowded globe is exacerbating the problems of pollution,desertification, underemployment, epidemics, and famine. Because oftheir own internal problems and priorities, the industrializedcountries devote insufficient resources to deal effectively with thepoorer areas of the world, which, at least from an economic point ofview, are becoming further marginalized. The introduction of theeuro as the common currency of much of Western Europe in January1999, while paving the way for an integrated economic powerhouse,poses economic risks because of varying levels of income andcultural and political differences among the participating nations.The terrorist attacks on the US on 11 September 2001 accentuated agrowing risk to global prosperity, illustrated, for example, by thereallocation of resources away from investment to anti-terroristprograms. The opening of war in March 2003 between a US-ledcoalition and Iraq added new uncertainties to global economicprospects. After the initial coalition victory, the complexpolitical difficulties and the high economic cost of establishingdomestic order in Iraq became major global problems that continuedthrough 2007.
YemenYemen, one of the poorest countries in the Arab world,reported average annual growth in the range of 3-4% from 2000through 2007. Its economic fortunes depend mostly on declining oilresources, but the country is trying to diversify its earnings. In2006 Yemen began an economic reform program designed to bolsternon-oil sectors of the economy and foreign investment. As a resultof the program, international donors pledged about $5 billion fordevelopment projects. In addition, Yemen has made some progress onreforms over the last year that will likely encourage foreigninvestment. Oil revenues probably increased in 2007 as a result ofhigher prices.
ZambiaZambia's economy has experienced modest growth in recentyears, with real GDP growth in 2005-07 between 5-6% per year.Privatization of government-owned copper mines in the 1990s relievedthe government from covering mammoth losses generated by theindustry and greatly improved the chances for copper mining toreturn to profitability and spur economic growth. Copper output hasincreased steadily since 2004, due to higher copper prices andforeign investment. In 2005, Zambia qualified for debt relief underthe Highly Indebted Poor Country Initiative, consisting ofapproximately USD 6 billion in debt relief. Zambia experienced abumper harvest in 2007, which helped to boost GDP and agriculturalexports and contain inflation. Although poverty continues to besignificant problem in Zambia, its economy has strengthened,featuring single-digit inflation, a relatively stable currency,decreasing interest rates, and increasing levels of trade.
ZimbabweThe government of Zimbabwe faces a wide variety ofdifficult economic problems as it struggles with an unsustainablefiscal deficit, an overvalued official exchange rate,hyperinflation, and bare store shelves. Its 1998-2002 involvement inthe war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo drained hundreds ofmillions of dollars from the economy. The government's land reformprogram, characterized by chaos and violence, has badly damaged thecommercial farming sector, the traditional source of exports andforeign exchange and the provider of 400,000 jobs, turning Zimbabweinto a net importer of food products. The EU and the US provide foodaid on humanitarian grounds. Badly needed support from the IMF hasbeen suspended because of the government's arrears on past loans andthe government's unwillingness to enact reforms that would stabilizethe economy. The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe routinely prints money tofund the budget deficit, causing the official annual inflation rateto rise from 32% in 1998, to 133% in 2004, 585% in 2005, passed1000% in 2006, and 26000% in November 2007. Private sector estimatesof inflation in 2007 are well above 100,000%. Meanwhile, theofficial exchange rate fell from approximately 1 (revalued)Zimbabwean dollar per US dollar in 2003 to 30,000 per US dollar in2007.
This page was last updated on 18 December 2008
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@2117 Pipelines (km)
Afghanistangas 466 km (2007)
Albaniagas 339 km; oil 207 km (2007)
Algeriacondensate 1,532 km; gas 13,861 km; liquid petroleum gas2,408 km; oil 6,878 km (2007)
Angolagas 234 km; liquid petroleum gas 85 km; oil 896 km;oil/gas/water 5 km (2007)
Argentinagas 28,657 km; liquid petroleum gas 41 km; oil 5,607 km;refined products 3,052 km; unknown (oil/water) 13 km (2007)
Armeniagas 2,036 km (2007)
Australiacondensate/gas 469 km; gas 26,719 km; liquid petroleum gas240 km; oil 3,720 km; oil/gas/water 110 km (2007)
Austriagas 2,722 km; oil 663 km; refined products 157 km (2007)
Azerbaijangas 3,857 km; oil 2,436 km (2007)
Bahraingas 20 km; oil 52 km (2007)
Bangladeshgas 2,644 km (2007)
Belarusgas 5,250 km; oil 1,528 km; refined products 1,730 km (2007)
Belgiumgas 1,562 km; oil 158 km; refined products 535 km (2007)
Boliviagas 4,860 km; liquid petroleum gas 47 km; oil 2,475 km;refined products 1,589 km; unknown (oil/water) 247 km (2007)
Brazilcondensate/gas 244 km; gas 12,070 km; liquid petroleum gas351 km; oil 5,214 km; refined products 4,410 km (2007)
Bruneigas 672 km; oil 463 km (2007)
Bulgariagas 2,500 km; oil 339 km; refined products 156 km (2007)
Burmagas 2,790 km; oil 558 km (2007)
Cameroongas 27 km; liquid petroleum gas 5 km; oil 1,110 km (2007)
Canadacrude and refined oil 23,564 km; liquid petroleum gas 74,980km (2006)
Chadoil 250 km (2007)
Chilegas 2,550 km; gas/liquid petroleum gas 42 km; liquid petroleumgas 539 km; oil 1,002 km; refined products 757 km; unknown(oil/water) 97 km (2007)
Chinagas 26,344 km; oil 17,240 km; refined products 6,106 km (2007)
Colombiagas 4,329 km; oil 6,140 km; refined products 3,145 km (2007)
Congo, Democratic Republic of thegas 62 km; oil 71 km (2007)
Congo, Republic of the gas 89 km; liquid petroleum gas 4 km; oil 758 km (2007)
Costa Ricarefined products 242 km (2007)
Cote d'Ivoirecondensate 102 km; gas 245 km; oil 112 km (2007)
Croatiagas 1,556 km; oil 583 km (2007)
Cubagas 49 km; oil 230 km (2007)
Czech Republicgas 7,010 km; oil 547 km; refined products 94 km(2007)
Denmarkcondensate 11 km; gas 4,073 km; oil 617 km; oil/gas/water 2km (2007)
Ecuadorextra heavy crude oil 578 km; gas 71 km; oil 1,389 km;refined products 1,185 km (2007)
Egyptcondensate 483 km; condensate/gas 74 km; gas 6,466 km; liquidpetroleum gas 957 km; oil 5,518 km; oil/gas/water 37 km; refinedproducts 895 km (2007)
Equatorial Guinea condensate 42 km; condensate/gas 5 km; gas 80 km; oil 54 km (2007)
Estoniagas 859 km (2007)
Finlandgas 694 km (2007)
Francegas 14,665 km; oil 3,032 km; refined products 4,947 km (2007)
Gabongas 384 km; oil 1,427 km (2007)
Georgiagas 1,591 km; oil 1,253 km (2007)
Germanycondensate 37 km; gas 25,094 km; oil 3,546 km; refinedproducts 3,828 km (2007)
Ghanaoil 13 km; refined products 316 km (2007)
Greecegas 1,166 km; oil 94 km (2007)
Guatemalaoil 480 km (2007)
Hungarygas 4,397 km; oil 990 km; refined products 335 km (2007)
Indiacondensate/gas 9 km; gas 7,488 km; liquid petroleum gas 1,861km; oil 7,883 km; refined products 6,422 km (2007)
Indonesiacondensate 963 km; condensate/gas 81 km; gas 9,003 km; oil7,471 km; oil/gas/water 77 km; refined products 1,365 km (2007)
Irancondensate 7 km; condensate/gas 397 km; gas 19,161 km; liquidpetroleum gas 570 km; oil 8,438 km; refined products 7,936 km (2007)
Iraqgas 2,250 km; liquid petroleum gas 918 km; oil 5,509 km;refined products 1,637 km (2007)
Irelandgas 1,855 km (2007)
Israelgas 160 km; oil 442 km; refined products 261 km (2007)
Italygas 18,863 km; oil 1,258 km (2007)
Japangas 3,939 km; oil 170 km; oil/gas/water 104 km (2007)
Jordangas 426 km; oil 49 km (2007)
Kazakhstancondensate 658 km; gas 11,082 km; oil 10,376 km; refinedproducts 1,095 km (2007)
Kenyarefined products 900 km (2007)
Korea, Northoil 154 km (2007)
Korea, Southgas 1,482 km; refined products 827 km (2007)
Kuwaitgas 269 km; oil 540 km; refined products 57 km (2007)
Kyrgyzstangas 254 km; oil 16 km (2007)
Laosrefined products 540 km (2007)
Latviagas 948 km; oil 82 km; refined products 415 km (2007)
Lebanongas 43 km (2007)
Libyacondensate 882 km; gas 3,425 km; oil 6,956 km (2007)
Liechtensteingas 20 km (2007)
Lithuaniagas 1,695 km; oil 228 km; refined products 121 km (2007)
Luxembourggas 155 km (2007)
Macedoniagas 268 km; oil 120 km (2007)
Malaysiacondensate 282 km; gas 5,273 km; oil 1,750 km;oil/gas/water 19 km; refined products 114 km (2007)
Mexicogas 22,705 km; liquid petroleum gas 1,875 km; oil 8,688 km;oil/gas/water 228 km; refined products 6,520 km (2006)
Moldovagas 1,980 km (2007)
Moroccogas 720 km; oil 439 km (2007)
Mozambiquegas 964 km; refined products 278 km (2007)
Netherlandscondensate 81 km; gas 7,394 km; oil 578 km; refinedproducts 716 km (2007)
New Zealandcondensate 331 km; gas 1,896 km; liquid petroleum gas172 km; oil 288 km; refined products 260 km (2007)
Nicaraguaoil 54 km (2007)
Nigeriacondensate 124 km; gas 3,071 km; liquid petroleum gas 156km; oil 4,347 km; refined products 3,949 km (2007)
Norwaycondensate 508 km; gas 6,529 km; oil 2,444 km; oil/gas/water457 km (2007)
Omangas 4,126 km; oil 3,558 km (2007)
Pakistangas 10,398 km; oil 2,076 km (2007)
Papua New Guineaoil 264 km (2007)
Perugas 1,181 km; gas/liquid petroleum gas 61 km; liquid naturalgas 106 km; liquid petroleum gas 517 km; oil 1,749 km; refinedproducts 13 km (2007)
Philippinesgas 565 km; oil 135 km; refined products 105 km (2007)
Polandgas 13,552 km; oil 1,384 km; refined products 777 km (2007)
Portugalgas 1,098 km; oil 11 km; refined products 188 km (2007)
Qatarcondensate 322 km; condensate/gas 209 km; gas 1,970 km; liquidpetroleum gas 87 km; oil 741 km (2007)
Romaniagas 3,674 km; oil 2,424 km (2007)
Russiacondensate 122 km; gas 158,699 km; oil 72,347 km; refinedproducts 13,658 km (2007)
Saudi Arabiacondensate 212 km; gas 1,880 km; liquid petroleum gas1,183 km; oil 4,521 km; refined products 1,148 km (2007)
Senegalgas 43 km (2007)
Serbiagas 1,921 km; oil 393 km (2007)
Singaporegas 139 km; refined products 8 km (2007)
Slovakiagas 6,769 km; oil 416 km (2007)
Sloveniagas 840 km; oil 11 km (2007)
South Africacondensate 100 km; gas 1,177 km; oil 992 km; refinedproducts 1,379 km (2007)
Spaingas 7,858 km; oil 622 km; refined products 3,445 km (2007)
Sudangas 156 km; oil 4,070 km; refined products 1,613 km (2007)
Surinameoil 50 km (2007)
Swedengas 798 km (2007)
Switzerlandgas 1,781 km; oil 94 km; refined products 7 km (2007)
Syriagas 2,794 km; oil 2,000 km (2007)
Taiwancondensate 25 km; gas 661 km (2007)
Tajikistangas 549 km; oil 38 km (2007)
Tanzaniagas 287 km; oil 891 km (2007)
Thailandgas 4,381 km; refined products 320 km (2007)
Trinidad and Tobago condensate 245 km; gas 1,320 km; oil 563 km (2007)
Tunisiagas 2,665 km; oil 1,235 km; refined products 353 km (2007)
Turkeygas 7,511 km; oil 3,636 km (2007)
Turkmenistangas 6,441 km; oil 1,361 km (2007)
Ukrainegas 33,721 km; oil 4,514 km; refined products 4,211 km (2007)
United Arab Emiratescondensate 520 km; gas 2,908 km; liquidpetroleum gas 300 km; oil 2,950 km; oil/gas/water 5 km; refinedproducts 156 km (2007)
United Kingdomcondensate 567 km; condensate/gas 22 km; gas 18,980km; liquid petroleum gas 59 km; oil 4,930 km; oil/gas/water 165 km;refined products 4,444 km (2007)
United Statespetroleum products 244,620 km; natural gas 548,665 km(2006)
Uruguaygas 257 km; oil 160 km (2007)
Uzbekistangas 9,725 km; oil 868 km (2007)
Venezuelaextra heavy crude oil 992 km; gas 5,400 km; oil 7,607 km;refined products 1,650 km; unknown (oil/water) 141 km (2007)
Vietnamcondensate/gas 432 km; gas 510 km; oil 49 km; refinedproducts 206 km (2007)
Yemengas 71 km; liquid petroleum gas 22 km; oil 1,309 km (2007)
Zambiaoil 771 km (2007)
Zimbabwerefined products 270 km (2007)
This page was last updated on 18 December 2008
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@2118 Political parties and leaders
AfghanistanAfghanistan Peoples' Treaty Party [Sayyed Amir TAHSEEN];Afghanistan's Islamic Mission Organization [Abdul Rasoul SAYYAF];Afghanistan's Islamic Nation Party [Toran Noor Aqa Ahmad ZAI];Afghanistan's National Islamic Party [Rohullah LOUDIN];Afghanistan's Welfare Party [Meer Asef ZAEEFI]; Afghan SocialDemocratic Party [Anwarul Haq AHADI]; Afghan Society for the Call tothe Koran and Sunna [Mawlawee Samiullah NAJEEBEE]; ComprehensiveMovement of Democracy and Development of Afghanistan Party [SherMohammad BAZGAR]; Democratic Party of Afghanistan [Tawos ARAB];Democratic Party of Afghanistan [Abdul Kabir RANJBAR]; Elites Peopleof Afghanistan Party [Abdul Hamid JAWAD]; Freedom and DemocracyMovement of Afghanistan [Abdul Raqib Jawid KOHISTANEE]; FreedomParty of Afghanistan [Ilaj Abdul MALEK]; Freedom Party ofAfghanistan [Dr. Ghulam Farooq NEJRABEE]; Hizullah-e-Afghanistan[Qari Ahmad ALI]; Human Rights Protection and Development Party ofAfghanistan [Baryalai NASRATI]; Islamic Justice Party of Afghanistan[Mohammad Kabir MARZBAN]; Islamic Movement of Afghanistan [MohammadAli JAWID]; Islamic Movement of Afghanistan Party [Mohammad MukhtarMUFLEH]; Islamic Party of Afghanistan [Mohammad Khalid FAROOQI];Islamic Party of the Afghan Land [Mohammad Hassan FEROZKHEL];Islamic People's Movement of Afghanistan [Ilhaj Said HussainANWARY]; Islamic Society of Afghanistan [Ustad RABBANI]; IslamicUnity of the Nation of Afghanistan Party [Qurban Ali URFANI];Islamic Unity Party of Afghanistan [Mohammad Karim KHALILI]; IslamicUnity Party of the People of Afghanistan [Ustad Mohammad MOHAQQEQ];Labor and Progress of Afghanistan Party [Zulfiqar OMID]; MuslimPeople of Afghanistan Party [Besmellah JOYAN]; Muslim Unity MovementParty of Afghanistan [Wazir Mohammad WAHDAT]; National and IslamicSovereignty Movement Party of Afghanistan [Ahmad Shah AHMADZAI];National Congress Party of Afghanistan [Abdul Latif PEDRAM];National Country Party [Ghulam MOHAMMAD]; National Development Partyof Afghanistan [Dr. Aref BAKTASH]; National Freedom Seekers Party[Abdul Hadi DABEER]; National Independence Party of Afghanistan [TajMohammad WARDAK]; National Islamic Fighters Party of Afghanistan[Amanat NINGARHAREE]; National Islamic Front of Afghanistan [PirSayed Ahmad GAILANEE]; National Islamic Moderation Party ofAfghanistan [Qara Bik Eized YAAR]; National Islamic Movement ofAfghanistan [Sayed NOORULLAH]; National Islamic Unity Party ofAfghanistan [Mohammad AKBAREE]; National Movement of Afghanistan[Ahmad Wali MASOOUD]; National Party of Afghanistan [Abdul RashidARYAN]; National Patch of Afghanistan Party [Sayed Kamal SADAT];National Peace Islamic Party of Afghanistan [Shah Mohammood PopalZAI]; National Peace & Islamic Party of the Tribes of Afghanistan[Abdul Qaher SHARIATEE]; National Peace & Unity Party of Afghanistan[Abdul Qader IMAMI]; National Prosperity and Islamic Party ofAfghanistan [Mohammad Osman SALEKZADA]; National Prosperity Party[Mohammad Hassan JAHFAREE]; National Solidarity Movement ofAfghanistan [Pir Sayed Eshaq GAILANEE]; National Solidarity Party ofAfghanistan [Sayed Mansoor NADREEI]; National Sovereignty Party[Sayed Mustafa KAZEMI]; National Stability Party [Mohammad SameKHAROTI]; National Stance Party [Habibullah JANEBDAR]; NationalTribal Unity Islamic Party of Afghanistan [Mohammad Shah KHOGYANI];National United Front [Burhanuddin RABBANI] (a coalition); NationalUnity Movement [Sultan Mohammad GHAZI]; National Unity Movement ofAfghanistan [Mohammad Nadir AATASH]; National Unity Party ofAfghanistan [Abdul Rashid JALILI]; New Afghanistan Party [MohammadYunis QANUNI]; Peace and National Welfare Activists Society [ShamsulHaq Noor SHAMS]; Peace Movement [Shahnawaz TANAI]; People'sAspirations Party of Afghanistan [Ilhaj Saraj-u-din ZAFAREE];People's Freedom Seekers Party of Afghanistan [Feda Mohammad EHSAS];People's Liberal Freedom Seekers Party of Afghanistan [AjmalSUHAIL]; People's Message Party of Afghanistan [Noor Aqa WAINEE];People's Movement of the National Unity of Afghanistan [Abdul HakimNOORZAI]; People's Party of Afghanistan [Ahmad Shah ASAR]; People'sProsperity Party of Afghanistan [Ustad Mohammad ZAREEF]; People'sSovereignty Movement of Afghanistan [Hayatullah SUBHANEE]; People'sUprising Party of Afghanistan [Sayed Zahir Qayed Omul BELADI];People's Welfare Party of Afghanistan [Mia Gul WASIQ]; People'sWelfare Party of Afghanistan [Mohammad Zubair PAIROZ]; ProgressiveDemocratic Party of Afghanistan [Wali ARYA]; Republican Party[Sebghatullah SANJAR]; Solidarity Party of Afghanistan [Abdul KhaleqNEMAT]; The Afghanistan's Mujahid Nation's Islamic Unity Movement[Saeedullah SAEED]; The People of Afghanistan's Democratic Movement[Sharif NAZARI]; Tribes Solidarity Party of Afghanistan [MohammadZarif NASERI]; Understanding and Democracy Party of Afghanistan[Ahamad SHAHEEN]; United Afghanistan Party [Mohammad Wasil RAHIMEE];United Islamic Party of Afghanistan [Wahidullah SABAWOON]; YoungAfghanistan's Islamic Organization [Sayed Jawad HUSSINEE]; YouthSolidarity Party of Afghanistan [Mohammad Jamil KARZAI]; note -includes only political parties approved by the Ministry of Justice
AlbaniaAgrarian Environmentalist Party or PAA [Lufter XHUVELI];Christian Democratic Party or PDK [Nard NDOKA]; Communist Party ofAlbania or PKSH [Hysni MILLOSHI]; Democratic Alliance Party or AD[Neritan CEKA]; Democratic Party or PD [Sali BERISHA]; LegalityMovement Party or PLL [Ekrem SPAHIA]; Liberal Union Party or BLD[Arjan STAROVA]; Movement for National Development or LZhK [DashamirSHEHI]; National Front Party (Balli Kombetar) or PBK [Artur ROSHI];New Democratic Party or PDR [Genc POLLO]; Party of National Unity orPUK [Idajet BEQIRI]; Republican Party or PR [Fatmir MEDIU]; SocialDemocracy Party of Albania or PDSSh [Paskal MILO]; Social DemocraticParty or PSD [Skender GJINUSHI]; Socialist Movement for Integrationor LSI [Ilir META]; Socialist Party or PS [Edi RAMA]; Union forHuman Rights Party or PBDNj [Vangjel DULE]
AlgeriaAhd 54 [Ali Fauzi REBAINE]; Algerian National Front or FNA[Moussa TOUATI]; Islamic Salvation Front or FIS (outlawed April1992) [Ali BELHADJ, Dr. Abassi MADANI, Rabeh KEBIR]; NationalDemocratic Rally (Rassemblement National Democratique) or RND [AhmedOUYAHIA]; National Entente Movement or MEN [Ali BOUKHAZNA]; NationalLiberation Front or FLN [Abdelaziz BELKHADEM, secretary general];National Reform Movement or Islah (formerly MRN) [Mohamed BOULAHIA];National Renewal Party or PRA [Mohamed BENSMAIL]; Rally for Cultureand Democracy or RCD [Said SADI]; Renaissance Movement or EnNahdaMovement [Fatah RABEI]; Socialist Forces Front or FFS [Hocine AitAHMED]; Social Liberal Party or PSL [Ahmed KHELIL]; Society of PeaceMovement or MSP [Boudjerra SOLTANI]; Workers Party or PT [LouisaHANOUNE]note: a law banning political parties based on religion was enactedin March 1997
American SamoaDemocratic Party [Oreta M. TOGAFAU]; Republican Party[Tautai A. F. FAALEVAO]
AndorraAndorran Democratic Center Party (formerly Democratic Partyor PD) and Century 21 or CDA and S21 [Enric TARRADO]; Liberal Partyof Andorra or PLA [Albert PINTAT SANTOLARIA] (formerly Liberal Unionor UL); Social Democratic Party or PS [Jaume BARTUMEU CASSANY](formerly part of National Democratic Group or AND)
AngolaLiberal Democratic Party or PLD [Analia de Victoria PEREIRA];National Front for the Liberation of Angola or FNLA [disputedbetween Ngola KABANGU and Lucas NGONDA]; National Union for theTotal Independence of Angola or UNITA (largest opposition party)[Isaias SAMAKUVA]; Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola orMPLA (ruling party in power since 1975) [Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS];Social Renewal Party or PRS [Eduardo KUANGANA]note: about a dozen minor parties participated in the 1992 electionsbut only won a few seats; they and more than 100 other smallerparties have little influence in the National Assembly
AnguillaAnguilla United Front or AUF [Osbourne FLEMING, VictorBANKS] (a coalition of the Anguilla Democratic Party or ADP and theAnguilla National Alliance or ANA); Anguilla United Movement or AUM[Hubert HUGHES]; Anguilla Progressive Party or APP [Roy ROGERS];Anguilla Strategic Alternative or ANSA [Edison BAIRD]
Antigua and BarbudaAntigua Labor Party or ALP [Lester Bryant BIRD];Barbudans for a Better Barbuda [Ordrick SAMUEL]; Barbuda People'sMovement or BPM [Thomas H. FRANK]; Barbuda People's Movement forChange [Arthur NIBBS]; United Progressive Party or UPP [BaldwinSPENCER] (a coalition of three parties - Antigua CaribbeanLiberation Movement or ACLM, Progressive Labor Movement or PLM,United National Democratic Party or UNDP)
ArgentinaCoalicion Civica (a broad coalition loosely affiliatedwith Elisa CARRIO); Front for Victory or FV (a broad coalition,including elements of the UCR and numerous provincial parties)[Cristina FERNANDEZ DE KIRCHNER]; Interbloque Federal or IF (a broadcoalition of approximately 12 parties including PRO); JusticialistFront or FJ; Justicialist Party or PJ (Peronist umbrella politicalorganization); Radical Civic Union or UCR [Gerardo MORALES];Republican Proposal or PRO (including Federal Recreate Movement orRECREAR [Ricardo LOPEZ MURPHY] and Commitment for Change or CPC[Mauricio MACRI]); Socialist Party or PS [Ruben GIUSTINIANI]; UnionFor All [Patricia BULLRICH]; several provincial parties
ArmeniaArmenian National Movement or ANM [Ararat ZURABYAN];Armenian People's Party [Tigran KARAPETYAN]; Armenian RamkavarAzadagan Party Alliance or HRAK (includes former Dashink Party,National Revival Party, and Ramkavar Liberal Party); ArmenianRevolutionary Federation ("Dashnak" Party) or ARF [Hrant MARKARYAN];Heritage Party [Raffi HOVHANNISYAN]; National Democratic Party[Shavarsh KOCHARIAN]; National Democratic Union or NDU [VazgenMANUKIAN]; National Unity Party [Artashes GEGHAMYAN]; People's Partyof Armenia [Stepan DEMIRCHYAN]; Prosperous Armenia [GagikTSAROUKYAN]; Republic Party [Aram SARKISYAN]; Republican Party ofArmenia or HHK [Serzh SARGSIAN]; Rule of Law Party (Orinats Yerkir)[Artur BAGHDASARIAN]; Union of Constitutional Rights [HrantKHACHATURYAN]; United Labor Party [Gurgen ARSENYAN]
ArubaAliansa/Aruban Social Movement or MSA [Robert WEVER]; ArubanLiberal Organization or OLA [Glenbert CROES]; Aruban PatrioticMovement or MPA [Monica ARENDS-KOCK]; Aruban Patriotic Party or PPA[Benny NISBET]; Aruban People's Party or AVP [Mike EMAN]; People'sElectoral Movement Party or MEP [Nelson O. ODUBER]; Real Democracyor PDR [Andin BIKKER]; RED [Rudy LAMPE]; Workers Political Platformor PTT [Gregorio WOLFF]
AustraliaAustralian Democrats [Lyn ALLISON]; Australian Greens [BobBROWN]; Australian Labor Party [Kevin RUDD]; Country Liberal Party[Jodeen CARNEY]; Family First Party [Steve FIELDING]; Liberal Party[Malcolm TURNBULL]; The Nationals [Warren TRUSS]
AustriaAlliance for the Future of Austria or BZOe [Stefan PETZNER];Austrian People's Party or OeVP [Wilhelm MOLTERER]; Freedom Party ofAustria or FPOe [Heinz Christian STRACHE]; Social Democratic Partyof Austria or SPOe [Werner FAYMANN]; The Greens [Alexander VAN DERBELLEN]
AzerbaijanAzadliq (Freedom) coalition (Popular Front Party, LiberalParty, Citizens' Development Party); Azerbaijan Democratic Party orADP [Sardar JALALOGLU]; Azerbaijan Democratic Reforms Party (ADRP)Youth Movement [Ramin HAJILI]; Azerbaijan Popular Front or APF, nowsplit in 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;
Bahamas, TheFree National Movement or FNM [Hubert INGRAHAM];Progressive Liberal Party or PLP [Perry CHRISTIE]
Bahrainpolitical parties prohibited but political societies werelegalized per a July 2005 law
BangladeshAwami League or AL [Sheikh HASINA]; Bangladesh CommunistParty or BCP [Manjurul A. KHAN]; Bangladesh Nationalist Party or BNP[Khaleda ZIA]; Islami Oikya Jote or IOJ [Mufti Fazlul Haq AMINI];Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh or JIB [Matiur Rahman NIZAMI]; JatiyaParty or JP (Ershad faction) [Hussain Mohammad ERSHAD]; Jatiya Party(Manzur faction) [Naziur Rahman MANZUR]; Liberal Democratic Party orLDP [Badrudozza CHOWDHURY and Oli AHMED]
BarbadosBarbados Labor Party or BLP [Mia MOTTLEY]; Democratic LaborParty or DLP [David THOMPSON]; People's Empowerment Party or PEP[David COMISSIONG]
Belaruspro-government parties: Agrarian Party or AP [MikhailSHIMANSKY]; Belarusian Communist Party or KPB; Belarusian PatrioticMovement (Belarusian Patriotic Party) or BPR [Nikolay ULAKHOVICH,chairman]; Liberal Democratic Party of Belarus [Sergey GAYDUKEVICH];Party of Labor and Justice [Viktor SOKOLOV]; Social-Sports Party[Vladimir ALEXANDROVICH]opposition parties: Belarusian Christian Democracy Party(unregistered) [Pavel SEVERINETS]; Belarusian Party of Communists orPKB [Sergey KALYAKIN]; Belarusian Party of Labor (unregistered)[Aleksandr BUKHVOSTOV, Leonid LEMESHONAK]; Belarusian Popular Frontor BPF [Vintsyuk VYACHORKA]; Belarusian Social-Democratic Gramada[Stanislav SHUSHKEVICH]; Belarusian Social Democratic Party Hramada(People's Assembly) or BSDPH [Aleksandr KOZULIN; Anatoliy LEVKOVICH,acting]; Green Party [Oleg GROMYKO]; Party of Freedom and Progress(unregistered) [Vladimir NOVOSYAD]; United Civic Party or UCP[Anatoliy LEBEDKO]; Women's Party "Nadezhda" [Valentina MATUSEVICH,chairperson]other opposition includes: Christian Conservative BPF [ZyanonPAZNIAK]; Ecological Party of Greens [Mikhail KARTASH]; Party ofPopular Accord [Sergey YERMAKK]; Republican Party [Vladimir BELAZOR]
BelgiumFlemish parties: Christian Democratic and Flemish or CDV[Marianne THYSSEN]; Dedecker List [Jean-Marie DEDECKER]; FlemishLiberals and Democrats or Open VLD [Bart SOMERS]; Groen! [MiekeVOGELS] (formerly AGALEV, Flemish Greens); New Flemish Alliance orN-VA [Bart DE WEVER]; Social Progressive Alternative or SP.A[Caroline GENNEZ]; VlaamsProgressieven (Flemish Progressives) or VP[Bettina GEYSEN] - formerly Spirit; Vlaams Belang (Flemish Interest)or VB [Bruno VALKENIERS]Francophone parties: Ecolo (Francophone Greens) [Jean-Michel JAVAUX,Isabelle DURANT, Claude BROUIR]; Humanist and Democratic Center orCDH [Joelle MILQUET]; National Front or FN [Daniel HUYGENS]; ReformMovement or MR [Didier REYNDERS]; Socialist Party or PS [Elio DIRUPO]; other minor parties
BelizeNational Alliance for Belizean Rights or NABR; NationalReform Party or NRP [Cornelius DUECK]; People's National Party orPNP [Wil MAHEIA]; People's United Party or PUP [Said MUSA]; UnitedDemocratic Party or UDP [Dean BARROW]; Vision Inspired by the Peopleor VIP [Paul MORGAN]; We the People Reform Movement or WTP [HipolitoBAUTISTA]
BeninAlliance for Dynamic Democracy or ADD; Alliance of ProgressForces or AFP; African Movement for Democracy and Progress or MADEP[Sefou FAGBOHOUN]; Benin Renaissance or RB [Rosine SOGLO];Democratic Renewal Party or PRD [Adrien HOUNGBEDJI]; Force Cowriefor an Emerging Benin or FCBE; Impulse for Progress and Democracy orIPD [Theophile NATA]; Key Force or FC [Lazare SÈHOUÉTO]; Movementfor the People's Alternative or MAP [Olivier CAPO-CHICHI]; Rally forDemocracy and Progress or RDP [Dominique HOUNGNINOU]; SocialDemocrat Party or PSD [Bruno AMOUSSOU]; Union for the Relief or UPR[Issa SALIFOU]; Union for Democracy and National Solidarity or UDS[Sacca LAFIA]note: approximately 20 additional minor parties
BermudaProgressive Labor Party or PLP [Ewart BROWN]; United BermudaParty or UBP [Kim SWAN]
BhutanBhutan Peace and Prosperity Party (Druk Phuensum Tshogpa) orDPT [Jigme THINLEY]; People's Democratic Party or PDP [Sangay NGEDUP]
BoliviaFree Bolivia Movement or MBL [Franz BARRIOS]; MovementToward Socialism or MAS [Juan Evo MORALES Ayma]; Movement WithoutFear or MSM [Juan DEL GRANADO]; National Revolutionary Movement orMNR [Mirta QUEVEDO]; National Unity [Samuel DORIA MEDINA Arana];Poder Democratico Nacional or PODEMOS [Jorge Fernando QUIROGARamirez]; Social Alliance [Rene JOAQUINO]