Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
13 (Jan Mayen and Svalbard) (2000)
TransportationJan Mayen
Airports:
1 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)
Ports and terminals:
none; offshore anchorage only
MilitaryJan Mayen
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of Norway
Transnational IssuesJan Mayen
Disputes - international:
none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008
======================================================================
@Japan
IntroductionJapan
Background:
In 1603, a Tokugawa shogunate (military dictatorship) ushered in a long period of isolation from foreign influence in order to secure its power. For more than two centuries this policy enabled Japan to enjoy stability and a flowering of its indigenous culture. Following the Treaty of Kanagawa with the US in 1854, Japan opened its ports and began to intensively modernize and industrialize. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Japan became a regional power that was able to defeat the forces of both China and Russia. It occupied Korea, Formosa (Taiwan), and southern Sakhalin Island. In 1931-32 Japan occupied Manchuria, and in 1937 it launched a full-scale invasion of China. Japan attacked US forces in 1941 - triggering America's entry into World War II - and soon occupied much of East and Southeast Asia. After its defeat in World War II, Japan recovered to become an economic power and a staunch ally of the US. While the emperor retains his throne as a symbol of national unity, elected politicians - with heavy input from bureaucrats and business executives - wield actual decisionmaking power. The economy experienced a major slowdown starting in the 1990s following three decades of unprecedented growth, but Japan still remains a major economic power, both in Asia and globally.
GeographyJapan
Location:
Eastern Asia, island chain between the North Pacific Ocean and theSea of Japan, east of the Korean Peninsula
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Asia
Area:
total: 377,835 sq km land: 374,744 sq km water: 3,091 sq km note: includes Bonin Islands (Ogasawara-gunto), Daito-shoto, Minami-jima, Okino-tori-shima, Ryukyu Islands (Nansei-shoto), and Volcano Islands (Kazan-retto)
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than California
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
29,751 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm; between 3 nm and 12 nm in the international straits - La Perouse or Soya, Tsugaru, Osumi, and Eastern and Western Channels of the Korea or Tsushima Strait contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
varies from tropical in south to cool temperate in north
Terrain:
mostly rugged and mountainous
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Hachiro-gata -4 m highest point: Mount Fuji 3,776 m
Natural resources:
negligible mineral resources, fish note: with virtually no energy natural resources, Japan is the world's largest importer of coal and liquefied natural gas as well as the second largest importer of oil
Land use:
arable land: 11.64% permanent crops: 0.9% other: 87.46% (2005)
Irrigated land:
25,920 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
430 cu km (1999)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 88.43 cu km/yr (20%/18%/62%) per capita: 690 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
many dormant and some active volcanoes; about 1,500 seismic occurrences (mostly tremors) every year; tsunamis; typhoons
Environment - current issues:
air pollution from power plant emissions results in acid rain; acidification of lakes and reservoirs degrading water quality and threatening aquatic life; Japan is one of the largest consumers of fish and tropical timber, contributing to the depletion of these resources in Asia and elsewhere
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine LivingResources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, ClimateChange, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of theSea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
Geography - note:
strategic location in northeast Asia
PeopleJapan
Population:
127,288,416 (July 2008 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 13.7% (male 8,926,439/female 8,460,629) 15-64 years: 64.7% (male 41,513,061/female 40,894,057) 65 years and over: 21.6% (male 11,643,845/female 15,850,388) (2008 est.)
Median age:
total: 43.8 years male: 42.1 years female: 45.7 years (2008 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.139% (2008 est.)
Birth rate:
7.87 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate:
9.26 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Net migration rate:
NA (2008 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 2.8 deaths/1,000 live births male: 3 deaths/1,000 live births female: 2.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 82.07 years male: 78.73 years female: 85.59 years (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.22 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
12,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
500 (2003 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Japanese (singular and plural) adjective: Japanese
Ethnic groups:
Japanese 98.5%, Koreans 0.5%, Chinese 0.4%, other 0.6% note: up to 230,000 Brazilians of Japanese origin migrated to Japan in the 1990s to work in industries; some have returned to Brazil (2004)
Religions:
observe both Shinto and Buddhist 84%, other 16% (including Christian 0.7%)
Languages:
Japanese
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% male: 99% female: 99% (2002)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 15 years male: 15 years female: 15 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
3.5% of GDP (2005)
GovernmentJapan
Country name:
conventional long form: none conventional short form: Japan local long form: Nihon-koku/Nippon-koku local short form: Nihon/Nippon
Government type:
constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary government
Capital:
name: Tokyo geographic coordinates: 35 41 N, 139 45 E time difference: UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
47 prefectures; Aichi, Akita, Aomori, Chiba, Ehime, Fukui, Fukuoka,Fukushima, Gifu, Gunma, Hiroshima, Hokkaido, Hyogo, Ibaraki,Ishikawa, Iwate, Kagawa, Kagoshima, Kanagawa, Kochi, Kumamoto,Kyoto, Mie, Miyagi, Miyazaki, Nagano, Nagasaki, Nara, Niigata, Oita,Okayama, Okinawa, Osaka, Saga, Saitama, Shiga, Shimane, Shizuoka,Tochigi, Tokushima, Tokyo, Tottori, Toyama, Wakayama, Yamagata,Yamaguchi, Yamanashi
Independence:
660 B.C. (traditional founding by Emperor JIMMU)
National holiday:
Birthday of Emperor AKIHITO, 23 December (1933)
Constitution:
3 May 1947
Legal system:
modeled after German civil law system with English-American influence; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:
20 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Emperor AKIHITO (since 7 January 1989) head of government: Prime Minister Taro ASO (since 24 September 2008) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister elections: Diet designates prime minister; constitution requires that prime minister commands parliamentary majority; following legislative elections, leader of majority party or leader of majority coalition in House of Representatives usually becomes prime minister; monarch is hereditary
Legislative branch:
bicameral Diet or Kokkai consists of the House of Councillors or Sangi-in (242 seats - members elected for six-year terms; half reelected every three years; 146 members in multi-seat constituencies and 96 by proportional representation) and the House of Representatives or Shugi-in (480 seats - members elected for four-year terms; 300 in single-seat constituencies; 180 members by proportional representation in 11 regional blocs) elections: House of Councillors - last held 29 July 2007 (next to be held in July 2010); House of Representatives - last held 11 September 2005 (next election by September 2009) election results: House of Councillors - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - DPJ 109, LDP 83, Komeito 20, JCP 7, SDP 5, others 18 House of Representatives - percent of vote by party (in single-seat constituencies) - LDP 47.8%, DPJ 36.4%, others 15.8%; seats by party - LDP 296, DPJ 113, Komeito 31, JCP 9, SDP 7, others 24 (2007)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (chief justice is appointed by the monarch after designation by the cabinet; all other justices are appointed by the cabinet)
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic Party of Japan or DPJ [Ichiro OZAWA]; Japan CommunistParty or JCP [Kazuo SHII]; Komeito [Akihiro OTA]; Liberal DemocraticParty or LDP [Taro ASO]; Social Democratic Party or SDP [MizuhoFUKUSHIMA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
other: business groups; trade unions
International organization participation:
ADB, AfDB (nonregional members), APEC, APT, ARF, ASEAN (dialoguepartner), Australia Group, BIS, CE (observer), CERN (observer), CP,EAS, EBRD, FAO, G-5, G-7, G-8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO,Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAIA, MIGA, NEA, NSG,OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE (partner), Paris Club, PCA, PIF(partner), SAARC (observer), SECI (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF,UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU,WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Ichiro FUJISAKI chancery: 2520 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 238-6700 FAX: [1] (202) 328-2187 consulate(s) general: Anchorage, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Detroit, Agana (Guam), Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Portland (Oregon), San Francisco, Seattle
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador J. Thomas SCHIEFFER embassy: 1-10-5 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-8420 mailing address: Unit 9800, Box 300, APO AP 96303-0300 telephone: [81] (03) 3224-5000 FAX: [81] (03) 3505-1862 consulate(s) general: Naha (Okinawa), Osaka-Kobe, Sapporo consulate(s): Fukuoka, Nagoya
Flag description:
white with a large red disk (representing the sun without rays) in the center
EconomyJapan
Economy - overview:
Government-industry cooperation, a strong work ethic, mastery of high technology, and a comparatively small defense allocation (1% of GDP) helped Japan advance with extraordinary rapidity to the rank of second most technologically powerful economy in the world after the US and the third-largest economy in the world after the US and China, measured on a purchasing power parity (PPP) basis. One notable characteristic of the economy has been how manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors have worked together in closely-knit groups called keiretsu. A second basic feature has been the guarantee of lifetime employment for a substantial portion of the urban labor force. Both features have now eroded. Japan's industrial sector is heavily dependent on imported raw materials and fuels. The tiny agricultural sector is highly subsidized and protected, with crop yields among the highest in the world. Usually self sufficient in rice, Japan must import about 55% of its food on a caloric basis. Japan maintains one of the world's largest fishing fleets and accounts for nearly 15% of the global catch. For three decades, overall real economic growth had been spectacular - a 10% average in the 1960s, a 5% average in the 1970s, and a 4% average in the 1980s. Growth slowed markedly in the 1990s, averaging just 1.7%, largely because of the after effects of overinvestment and an asset price bubble during the late 1980s that required a protracted period of time for firms to reduce excess debt, capital, and labor. From 2000 to 2001, government efforts to revive economic growth proved short lived and were hampered by the slowing of the US, European, and Asian economies. In 2002-07, growth improved and the lingering fears of deflation in prices and economic activity lessened, leading the central bank to raise interest rates to 0.25% in July 2006, up from the near 0% rate of the six years prior, and to 0.50% in February 2007. In addition, the 10-year privatization of Japan Post, which has functioned not only as the national postal delivery system but also, through its banking and insurance facilities as Japan's largest financial institution, was completed in October 2007, marking a major milestone in the process of structural reform. Nevertheless, Japan's huge government debt, which totals 182% of GDP, and the aging of the population are two major long-run problems. Some fear that a rise in taxes could endanger the current economic recovery. Debate also continues on the role of and effects of reform in restructuring the economy, particularly with respect to increasing income disparities.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$4.272 trillion (2007 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$4.384 trillion (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$33,500 (2007 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1.4% industry: 26.5% services: 72% (2007 est.)
Labor force:
66.69 million (2007 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 4.6% industry: 27.8% services: 67.7% (2004)
Unemployment rate:
3.8% (2007 est.)
Population below poverty line:
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 4.8% highest 10%: 21.7% (1993)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
38.1 (2002)
Investment (gross fixed):
23.2% of GDP (2007 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $1.462 trillion expenditures: $1.567 trillion (2007 est.)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
Public debt:
170% of GDP (2007 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
0.1% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
0.75% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
1.88% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$4.37 trillion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$4.783 trillion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$9.653 trillion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
rice, sugar beets, vegetables, fruit; pork, poultry, dairy products, eggs; fish
Industries:
among world's largest and technologically advanced producers of motor vehicles, electronic equipment, machine tools, steel and nonferrous metals, ships, chemicals, textiles, processed foods
Industrial production growth rate:
1.3% (2007 est.)
Electricity - production:
1.082 trillion kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - consumption:
982.5 billion kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 60% hydro: 8.4% nuclear: 29.8% other: 1.8% (2001)
Oil - production:
129,800 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - consumption:
5.007 million bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - exports:
168,800 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - imports:
5.47 million bbl/day (2005)
Oil - proved reserves:
44.12 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)
Natural gas - production:
3.729 billion cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
100.3 billion cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
95.62 billion cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
20.9 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)
Current account balance:
$210.5 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
$678.1 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
transport equipment, motor vehicles, semiconductors, electrical machinery, chemicals
Exports - partners:
US 20.4%, China 15.3%, South Korea 7.6%, Taiwan 6.3%, Hong Kong 5.4% (2007)
Imports:
$573.3 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, fuels, foodstuffs, chemicals, textiles, raw materials
Imports - partners:
China 20.5%, US 11.6%, Saudi Arabia 5.7%, UAE 5.2%, Australia 5%,South Korea 4.4%, Indonesia 4.2% (2007)
Economic aid - donor:
ODA, $11.19 billion (2006)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$954.1 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$1.492 trillion (30 June 2007)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$110.8 billion (2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$533.1 billion (2007 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$4.737 trillion (2005)
Currency (code):
yen (JPY)
Currency code:
Exchange rates:
yen (JPY) per US dollar - 117.99 (2007), 116.18 (2006), 110.22 (2005), 108.19 (2004), 115.93 (2003)
CommunicationsJapan
Telephones - main lines in use:
51.232 million (2007)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
107.339 million (2007)
Telephone system:
general assessment: excellent domestic and international service domestic: high level of modern technology and excellent service of every kind international: country code - 81; numerous submarine cables provide links throughout Asia, Australia, the Middle East, Europe, and US; satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (4 Pacific Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region), and 1 Inmarsat (Pacific and Indian Ocean regions
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 215 (plus 370 repeaters), FM 89 (plus 485 repeaters), shortwave 21 (2001)
Radios:
120.5 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
211 (plus 7,341 repeaters); in addition, US Forces are served by 3 TV stations and 2 TV cable services (1999)
Televisions:
86.5 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.jp
Internet hosts:
39.909 million (2008)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
73 (2000)
Internet users:
88.11 million (2007)
TransportationJapan
Airports:
176 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 145 over 3,047 m: 7 2,438 to 3,047 m: 41 1,524 to 2,437 m: 40 914 to 1,523 m: 28 under 914 m: 29 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 31 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 27 (2007)
Heliports:
14 (2007)
Pipelines:
gas 3,939 km; oil 170 km; oil/gas/water 104 km (2007)
Railways:
total: 23,474 km standard gauge: 3,204 km 1.435-m gauge (3,204 km electrified) narrow gauge: 77 km 1.372-m gauge (77 km electrified); 20,182 km 1.067-m gauge (13,334 km electrified); 11 km 0.762-m gauge (11 km electrified) (2006)
Roadways:
total: 1,196,999 km paved: 949,101 km (includes 7,383 km of expressways) unpaved: 247,898 km (2006)
Waterways:
1,770 km (seagoing vessels use inland seas) (2007)
Merchant marine:
total: 683 by type: bulk carrier 136, cargo 30, carrier 3, chemical tanker 27, container 11, liquefied gas 59, passenger 12, passenger/cargo 135, petroleum tanker 156, refrigerated cargo 2, roll on/roll off 51, vehicle carrier 61 registered in other countries: 3,074 (Australia 1, Bahamas 87, Belize 8, Bermuda 2, Burma 1, Cambodia 1, Cayman Islands 13, China 2, Cyprus 21, France 1, Honduras 4, Hong Kong 111, Indonesia 6, Isle of Man 6, Italy 1, South Korea 20, Liberia 116, Malaysia 4, Malta 8, Marshall Islands 17, Nigeria 1, Norway 29, Panama 2335, Philippines 81, Portugal 15, Saint Kitts and Nevis 3, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 3, Singapore 131, Thailand 4, UK 4, US 7, Vanuatu 29, Vietnam 1, unknown 1) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Chiba, Kawasaki, Kobe, Mizushima, Moji, Nagoya, Osaka, Tokyo,Tomakomai, Yohohama
MilitaryJapan
Military branches:
Japanese Ministry of Defense (MOD): Ground Self-Defense Force(Rikujou Jietai, GSDF), Maritime Self-Defense Force (Kaijou Jietai,MSDF), Air Self-Defense Force (Koku Jieitai, ASDF) (2008)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 27,819,804 females age 16-49: 26,863,794 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 22.963 million females age 16-49: 22,134,127 (2008 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 622,168 female: 590,153 (2008 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.8% of GDP (2006)
Transnational IssuesJapan
Disputes - international:
the sovereignty dispute over the islands of Etorofu, Kunashiri, and Shikotan, and the Habomai group, known in Japan as the "Northern Territories" and in Russia as the "Southern Kuril Islands," occupied by the Soviet Union in 1945, now administered by Russia and claimed by Japan, remains the primary sticking point to signing a peace treaty formally ending World War II hostilities; Japan and South Korea claim Liancourt Rocks (Take-shima/Tok-do) occupied by South Korea since 1954; China and Taiwan dispute both Japan's claims to the uninhabited islands of the Senkaku-shoto (Diaoyu Tai) and Japan's unilaterally declared exclusive economic zone in the East China Sea, the site of intensive hydrocarbon prospecting
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008
======================================================================
@Jersey
IntroductionJersey
Background:
Jersey and the other Channel Islands represent the last remnants of the medieval Dukedom of Normandy that held sway in both France and England. These islands were the only British soil occupied by German troops in World War II. Jersey is a British crown dependency but is not part of the UK. However, the UK Government is constitutionally responsible for its defense and international representation.
GeographyJersey
Location:
Western Europe, island in the English Channel, northwest of France
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 116 sq km land: 116 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
about two-thirds the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
70 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 3 nm exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm
Climate:
temperate; mild winters and cool summers
Terrain:
gently rolling plain with low, rugged hills along north coast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 143 m
Natural resources:
arable land
Land use:
arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2005)
Irrigated land:
Natural hazards:
Environment - current issues:
Geography - note:
largest and southernmost of Channel Islands; about 30% of population concentrated in Saint Helier
PeopleJersey
Population:
91,533 (July 2008 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 16.6% (male 7,851/female 7,298) 15-64 years: 67.5% (male 30,744/female 30,997) 65 years and over: 16% (male 6,499/female 8,144) (2008 est.)
Median age:
total: 42.3 years male: 41.6 years female: 43.1 years (2008 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.221% (2008 est.)
Birth rate:
8.84 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate:
9.36 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Net migration rate:
2.73 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 5.01 deaths/1,000 live births male: 5.36 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.63 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 79.65 years male: 77.15 years female: 82.35 years (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.58 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Nationality:
noun: Channel Islander(s) adjective: Channel Islander
Ethnic groups:
Jersey 51.1%, Britons 34.8%, Irish, French, and other white 6.6%,Portuguese/Madeiran 6.4%, other 1.1% (2001 census)
Religions:
Anglican, Roman Catholic, Baptist, Congregational New Church,Methodist, Presbyterian
Languages:
English 94.5% (official), Portuguese 4.6%, other 0.9% (2001 census)
Literacy:
Education expenditures:
GovernmentJersey
Country name:
conventional long form: Bailiwick of Jersey conventional short form: Jersey
Dependency status:
British crown dependency
Government type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
name: Saint Helier geographic coordinates: 49 11 N, 2 06 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Administrative divisions:
none (British crown dependency); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 12 parishes including Grouville, Saint Brelade, Saint Clement, Saint Helier, Saint John, Saint Lawrence, Saint Martin, Saint Mary, Saint Quen, Saint Peter, Saint Saviour, and Trinity
Independence:
none (British crown dependency)
National holiday:
Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)
Constitution:
unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice
Legal system:
the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply and local statutes; justice is administered by the Royal Court
Suffrage:
16 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Lieutenant Governor Andrew RIDGEWAY (since 14 June 2006) head of government: Chief Minister Frank WALKER (since December 2005); Bailiff Philip Martin BAILHACHE (since February 1995) cabinet: Cabinet (since December 2005) elections: ministers of the Cabinet including the chief minister are elected by the Assembly of States; the monarch is hereditary; lieutenant governor and bailiff appointed by the monarch
Legislative branch:
unicameral Assembly of the States of Jersey (58 seats; 55 are voting members, of which 12 are senators elected for six-year terms, 12 are constables or heads of parishes elected for three-year terms, 29 are deputies elected for three-year terms, the bailiff and the deputy bailiff, and 3 non-voting members includes the Dean of Jersey, the Attorney General, and the Solicitor General appointed by the monarch) elections: last held 19 October 2005 for senators and 23 November 2005 for deputies (next to be held on 15 October 2008) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 55
Judicial branch:
Royal Court (judges elected by an electoral college and the bailiff)
Political parties and leaders:
two declared parties: Centre Party; Jersey Democratic Alliance note: all senators and deputies elected in 2005 were independents
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Institute of Directors, Jersey branch (provides business support);Jersey Hospitality Association [Robert JONES] (trade association);Jersey Rights Association [David ROTHERHAM] (human rights); LaSociete Jersiaise (education and conservation group); ProgressJersey [Darius J. PEARCE, Daren O'TOOLE, Gino RISOLI] (humanrights); Royal Jersey Agriculture and Horticultural Society orRJA&HS (development and management of the Jersey breed of cattle);Save Jersey's Heritage (protects heritage through buildingpreservation)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (British crown dependency)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (British crown dependency)
Flag description:
white with a diagonal red cross extending to the corners of the flag; in the upper quadrant, surmounted by a yellow crown, a red shield with the three lions of England in yellow
EconomyJersey
Economy - overview:
Jersey's economy is based on international financial services, agriculture, and tourism. In 2005 the finance sector accounted for about 50% of the island's output. Potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes, and especially flowers are important export crops, shipped mostly to the UK. The Jersey breed of dairy cattle is known worldwide and represents an important export income earner. Milk products go to the UK and other EU countries. Tourism accounts for one-quarter of GDP. In recent years, the government has encouraged light industry to locate in Jersey, with the result that an electronics industry has developed alongside the traditional manufacturing of knitwear. All raw material and energy requirements are imported, as well as a large share of Jersey's food needs. Light taxes and death duties make the island a popular tax haven. Living standards come close to those of the UK.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$5.1 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$5.1 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$57,000 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1% industry: 2% services: 97% (2005)
Labor force:
53,560 (June 2006)
Unemployment rate:
2.2% (2006 est.)
Population below poverty line:
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $829 million expenditures: $851 million (2005)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.7% (December 2006)
Agriculture - products:
potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes; beef, dairy products
Industries:
tourism, banking and finance, dairy, electronics
Industrial production growth rate:
Electricity - consumption:
630.1 million kWh (2004 est.)
Electricity - imports:
NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by France
Exports:
Exports - commodities:
light industrial and electrical goods, dairy cattle, foodstuffs, textiles
Exports - partners:
Imports:
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, foodstuffs, mineral fuels, chemicals
Imports - partners:
Debt - external:
Market value of publicly traded shares:
Currency (code):
Jersey pound note: the British pound is also legal tender
Currency code:
Exchange rates:
Jersey pounds per US dollar 0.4993 (2007), 0.5418 (2006), 0.5493 (2005), 0.5462 (2004), 0.6125 (2003) note: the Jersey pound is at par with the British pound
CommunicationsJersey
Telephones - main lines in use:
73,900 (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
83,900 (2004)
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA domestic: NA international: submarine cable connectivity to Guernsey and UK
Radio broadcast stations:
AM NA, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
Television broadcast stations:
2 (1997)
Televisions:
Internet country code:
.je
Internet hosts:
190 (2008)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
Internet users:
27,000 (2005)
TransportationJersey
Airports:
1 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)
Roadways:
total: 358 km (2002)
Ports and terminals:
Gorey, Saint Aubin, Saint Helier
MilitaryJersey
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 587 female: 540 (2008 est.)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational IssuesJersey
Disputes - international:
none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008
======================================================================
@Jordan
IntroductionJordan
Background:
Following World War I and the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire, the UK received a mandate to govern much of the Middle East. Britain separated out a semi-autonomous region of Transjordan from Palestine in the early 1920s, and the area gained its independence in 1946; it adopted the name of Jordan in 1950. The country's long-time ruler was King HUSSEIN (1953-99). A pragmatic leader, he successfully navigated competing pressures from the major powers (US, USSR, and UK), various Arab states, Israel, and a large internal Palestinian population, despite several wars and coup attempts. In 1989 he reinstituted parliamentary elections and gradual political liberalization; in 1994 he signed a peace treaty with Israel. King ABDALLAH II, the son of King HUSSEIN, assumed the throne following his father's death in February 1999. Since then, he has consolidated his power and undertaken an aggressive economic reform program. Jordan acceded to the World Trade Organization in 2000, and began to participate in the European Free Trade Association in 2001. Municipal elections were held in July 2007 under a system in which 20% of seats in all municipal councils were reserved by quota for women. Parliamentary elections were held in November 2007 and saw independent pro-government candidates win the vast majority of seats. In November 2007, King Abdallah instructed his new prime minister to focus on socioeconomic reform, developing a healthcare and housing network for civilians and military personnel, and improving the educational system.
GeographyJordan
Location:
Middle East, northwest of Saudi Arabia
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Middle East
Area:
total: 92,300 sq km land: 91,971 sq km water: 329 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Indiana
Land boundaries:
total: 1,635 km border countries: Iraq 181 km, Israel 238 km, Saudi Arabia 744 km, Syria 375 km, West Bank 97 km
Coastline:
26 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate:
mostly arid desert; rainy season in west (November to April)
Terrain:
mostly desert plateau in east, highland area in west; Great Rift Valley separates East and West Banks of the Jordan River
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Dead Sea -408 m highest point: Jabal Ram 1,734 m
Natural resources:
phosphates, potash, shale oil
Land use:
arable land: 3.32% permanent crops: 1.18% other: 95.5% (2005)
Irrigated land:
750 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
0.9 cu km (1997)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 1.01 cu km/yr (21%/4%/75%) per capita: 177 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
droughts; periodic earthquakes
Environment - current issues:
limited natural fresh water resources; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
strategic location at the head of the Gulf of Aqaba and as the Arab country that shares the longest border with Israel and the occupied West Bank
PeopleJordan
Population:
6,198,677 (July 2008 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 32.2% (male 1,017,233/female 976,284) 15-64 years: 63.7% (male 2,110,293/female 1,840,531) 65 years and over: 4.1% (male 122,975/female 131,361) (2008 est.)
Median age:
total: 23.9 years male: 24.6 years female: 23.2 years (2008 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.338% (2008 est.)
Birth rate:
20.13 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate:
2.72 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Net migration rate:
5.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.15 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/female total population: 1.1 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 15.57 deaths/1,000 live births male: 18.62 deaths/1,000 live births female: 12.34 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.71 years male: 76.19 years female: 81.39 years (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.47 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
600 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 500 (2003 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Jordanian(s) adjective: Jordanian
Ethnic groups:
Arab 98%, Circassian 1%, Armenian 1%
Religions:
Sunni Muslim 92%, Christian 6% (majority Greek Orthodox, but someGreek and Roman Catholics, Syrian Orthodox, Coptic Orthodox,Armenian Orthodox, and Protestant denominations), other 2% (severalsmall Shia Muslim and Druze populations) (2001 est.)
Languages:
Arabic (official), English widely understood among upper and middle classes
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 89.9% male: 95.1% female: 84.7% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 13 years male: 13 years female: 13 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
4.9% of GDP (1999)
GovernmentJordan
Country name:
conventional long form: Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan conventional short form: Jordan local long form: Al Mamlakah al Urduniyah al Hashimiyah local short form: Al Urdun former: Transjordan
Government type:
constitutional monarchy
Capital:
name: Amman geographic coordinates: 31 57 N, 35 56 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Thursday in March; ends last Friday in September
Administrative divisions:
12 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Ajlun, Al 'Aqabah, Al Balqa', Al Karak, Al Mafraq, 'Amman, At Tafilah, Az Zarqa', Irbid, Jarash, Ma'an, Madaba
Independence:
25 May 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration)