Industrial production growth rate:
3.1% (2007 est.)
Electricity - production:
97.33 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - consumption:
109.6 billion kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - exports:
5.565 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
23.14 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 89.9% hydro: 0.1% nuclear: 4.3% other: 5.7% (2001)
Oil - production:
88,950 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - consumption:
984,200 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - exports:
1.639 million bbl/day (2005)
Oil - imports:
2.648 million bbl/day (2005)
Oil - proved reserves:
100 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)
Natural gas - production:
76.33 billion cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
46.42 billion cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
55.66 billion cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
25.73 billion cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
1.416 trillion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)
Current account balance:
$47.31 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
$456.8 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels; foodstuffs
Exports - partners:
Germany 24.4%, Belgium 13.6%, UK 9.1%, France 8.5%, Italy 5.1%, US 4.3% (2007)
Imports:
$406.3 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, fuels, foodstuffs, clothing
Imports - partners:
Germany 17.7%, China 10.5%, Belgium 9.3%, US 7.3%, UK 5.8%, Russia 5.1%, France 4.4% (2007)
Economic aid - donor:
ODA, $5.452 billion (2006)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$26.98 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$2.277 trillion (30 June 2007)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$673.4 billion (2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$851.3 billion (2007 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$924.4 billion (November 2007)
Currency (code):
euro (EUR)
Currency code:
Exchange rates:
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003)
CommunicationsNetherlands
Telephones - main lines in use:
7.334 million (2007)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
17.3 million (2006)
Telephone system:
general assessment: highly developed and well maintained domestic: extensive fixed-line fiber-optic network; large cellular telephone system with 5 major operators utilizing the third generation of the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) technology international: country code - 31; submarine cables provide links to the US and Europe; satellite earth stations - 5 (3 Intelsat - 1 Indian Ocean and 2 Atlantic Ocean, 1 Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat (2007)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 4, FM 246, shortwave 3 (2004)
Radios:
15.3 million (1996)
Television broadcast stations:
21 (plus 26 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions:
8.1 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.nl
Internet hosts:
10.983 million (2008)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
52 (2000)
Internet users:
15 million (2007)
TransportationNetherlands
Airports:
27 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 20 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 2 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 4 (2007)
Heliports:
1 (2007)
Pipelines:
condensate 81 km; gas 7,394 km; oil 578 km; refined products 716 km (2007)
Railways:
total: 2,797 km standard gauge: 2,797 km 1.435-m gauge (2,064 km electrified) (2006)
Roadways:
total: 134,981 km (includes 2,604 km of expressways) (2006)
Waterways:
6,211 km (navigable for ships of 50 tons) (2006)
Merchant marine:
total: 622 by type: bulk carrier 9, cargo 381, carrier 19, chemical tanker 44, container 76, liquefied gas 15, passenger 16, passenger/cargo 15, petroleum tanker 11, refrigerated cargo 10, roll on/roll off 23, specialized tanker 3 foreign-owned: 203 (Belgium 2, Cyprus 8, Denmark 29, Finland 14, France 1, Germany 75, Ireland 10, Italy 1, South Korea 1, Norway 12, Sweden 28, Turkey 1, UAE 5, UK 2, US 14) registered in other countries: 178 (Antigua and Barbuda 20, Australia 2, Austria 2, Bahamas 9, Cambodia 1, Canada 1, Cyprus 22, Germany 1, Gibraltar 21, Isle of Man 1, Liberia 6, Luxembourg 2, Marshall Islands 8, Netherlands Antilles 38, Panama 14, Paraguay 1, Philippines 23, Portugal 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 3, US 1, unknown 1) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Amsterdam, IJmuiden, Rotterdam, Terneuzen, Vlissingen
MilitaryNetherlands
Military branches:
Royal Netherlands Army, Royal Netherlands Navy (includes Naval AirService and Marine Corps), Royal Netherlands Air Force (KoninklijkeLuchtmacht, KLu), Royal Military Police (2008)
Military service age and obligation:
20 years of age for an all-volunteer force (2004)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 3,950,825 females age 16-49: 3,850,800 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 3,233,773 females age 16-49: 3,150,790 (2008 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 105,735 female: 100,747 (2008 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.6% of GDP (2005 est.)
Transnational IssuesNetherlands
Disputes - international:
none
Illicit drugs:
major European producer of synthetic drugs, including ecstasy, and cannabis cultivator; important gateway for cocaine, heroin, and hashish entering Europe; major source of US-bound ecstasy; large financial sector vulnerable to money laundering; significant consumer of ecstasy
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008
======================================================================
@Netherlands Antilles
IntroductionNetherlands Antilles
Background:
Once the center of the Caribbean slave trade, the island of Curacao was hard hit by the abolition of slavery in 1863. Its prosperity (and that of neighboring Aruba) was restored in the early 20th century with the construction of oil refineries to service the newly discovered Venezuelan oil fields. The island of Saint Martin is shared with France; its southern portion is named Sint Maarten and is part of the Netherlands Antilles; its northern portion, called Saint Martin, is an overseas collectivity of France.
GeographyNetherlands Antilles
Location:
Caribbean, two island groups in the Caribbean Sea - composed of fiveislands, Curacao and Bonaire located off the coast of Venezuela, andSint Maarten, Saba, and Sint Eustatius lie east of the US VirginIslands
Geographic coordinates:
Bonaire: 12 12 N, 68 15 WCuracao: 12 10 N, 69 00 WSaba: 17 38 N, 63 14 WSint Eustatius: 17 30 N, 62 58 WSint Maarten: 18 04 N, 63 04 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 960 sq km land: 960 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten (Dutch part of the island of Saint Martin)
Area - comparative:
more than five times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
total: 15 km border countries: Saint Martin 15 km
Coastline:
364 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm
Climate:
tropical; ameliorated by northeast trade winds
Terrain:
generally hilly, volcanic interiors
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Scenery 862 m
Natural resources:
phosphates (Curacao only), salt (Bonaire only)
Land use:
arable land: 10% permanent crops: 0% other: 90% (2005)
Irrigated land:
Natural hazards:
Sint Maarten, Saba, and Sint Eustatius are subject to hurricanes from July to October; Curacao and Bonaire are south of Caribbean hurricane belt and are rarely threatened
Environment - current issues:
Geography - note:
the five islands of the Netherlands Antilles are divided geographically into the Leeward Islands (northern) group (Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten) and the Windward Islands (southern) group (Bonaire and Curacao); the island of Saint Martin is the smallest landmass in the world shared by two independent states, the French territory of Saint Martin and the Dutch territory of Sint Maarten
PeopleNetherlands Antilles
Population:
225,369 (July 2008 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 23.2% (male 26,749/female 25,467) 15-64 years: 67.5% (male 73,319/female 78,842) 65 years and over: 9.3% (male 8,541/female 12,451) (2008 est.)
Median age:
total: 33.4 years male: 31.6 years female: 35.2 years (2008 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.754% (2008 est.)
Birth rate:
14.37 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate:
6.43 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 9.36 deaths/1,000 live births male: 10.04 deaths/1,000 live births female: 8.64 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.45 years male: 74.15 years female: 78.87 years (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.98 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Nationality:
noun: Dutch Antillean(s) adjective: Dutch Antillean
Ethnic groups:
mixed black 85%, other 15% (includes Carib Amerindian, white, East Asian)
Religions:
Roman Catholic 72%, Pentecostal 4.9%, Protestant 3.5%, Seventh-DayAdventist 3.1%, Methodist 2.9%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.7%, otherChristian 4.2%, Jewish 1.3%, other or unspecified 1.2%, none 5.2%(2001 census)
Languages:
Papiamento 65.4% (a Spanish-Portuguese-Dutch-English dialect),English 15.9% (widely spoken), Dutch 7.3% (official), Spanish 6.1%,Creole 1.6%, other 1.9%, unspecified 1.8% (2001 census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 96.7% male: 96.7% female: 96.8% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 14 years male: 14 years female: 15 years (2002)
Education expenditures:
GovernmentNetherlands Antilles
Country name:
conventional long form: none conventional short form: Netherlands Antilles local long form: none local short form: Nederlandse Antillen former: Curacao and Dependencies
Dependency status:
an autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands; full autonomy in internal affairs granted in 1954; Dutch Government responsible for defense and foreign affairs
Government type:
parliamentary
Capital:
name: Willemstad (on Curacao) geographic coordinates: 12 06 N, 68 56 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands) note: each island has its own government
Independence:
none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
National holiday:
Queen's Day (Birthday of Queen-Mother JULIANA and accession to the throne of her oldest daughter BEATRIX), 30 April (1909 and 1980)
Constitution:
29 December 1954, Statute of the Realm of the Netherlands, as amended
Legal system:
based on Dutch civil law system with some English common law influence
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen BEATRIX of the Netherlands (since 30 April 1980); represented by Governor General Frits GOEDGEDRAG (since 1 July 2002) head of government: Prime Minister Emily de JONGH-ELHAGE (since 26 March 2006) cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the Staten (legislature) elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch for a six-year term; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party is usually elected prime minister by the Staten; election last held 27 January 2006 (next to be held by 2010) note: government coalition - PAR, PNP, DP-St. M, UPB, WIPM Saba, DP-St. E
Legislative branch:
unicameral States or Staten (22 seats, Curacao 14, Bonaire 3, St. Maarten 3, St. Eustatius 1, Saba 1; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 27 January 2006 (next to be held in 2010) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PAR 5, MAN 3, FOL 2, Forsa Korsou 2, National Alliance 2, PNP 2, UPB 2, DP-St. E 1, DP-St. M 1, PDB 1, WIPM 1 note: the government is a coalition of several parties
Judicial branch:
Joint High Court of Justice (judges appointed by the monarch)
Political parties and leaders:
Bonaire: Democratic Party of Bonaire or PDB [Jopi ABRAHAM];Patriotic Union of Bonaire or UPB [Ramonsito BOOI]Curacao: Ban Vota [Norbert GEORGE]; C-93 [Stanley BROWN]; DemocraticParty of Curacao or DP [Errol HERNANDEZ]; E Mayoria [Aurelio PEDRO];Forsa Korsou [Nelson NAVARRO]; Liste Ni'un Paso Atras [NelsonPIERRE]; Movemiento Patriotiko Korsou [Reginald LAK]; New AntillesMovement or MAN [Charles COOPER]; Partido Akshon Pa Prosperidat ISeguridat [Sonja BERKEMEYER]; Partido Laboral Krusada Popular orPLKP [Errol COVA]; Party for the Restructured Antilles or PAR [Emilyde JONGH-ELHAGE]; People's National Party or PNP [Ersilia DELANNOOY]; Pidjin [Jasmin PINEDO]; Pueblo Soberano [Herman WIELS];Workers' Liberation Front or FOL [Anthony GODETT]Saba: Saba Labor Party [Akilah LEVENSTONE]; Windward IslandsPeople's Movement or WIPM [Ray HASSELL]Sint Eustatius: Democratic Party of Sint Eustatius or DP-St. E[Julian WOODLEY]; Progressive Labor Party [Clyde VAN PUTTEN]; St.Eustatius Alliance [Ingrid HOUTMAN-WHITFIELD]Sint Maarten: Democratic Party of Sint Maarten or DP-St. M [SarahWESCOTT-WILLIAMS]; Freedom Slate of National Democratic Party[Theophilus PRIEST]; National Alliance or NA [William MARLIN];People's Progressive Alliance or PPA [Gracita ARRINDELL]; St.Maarten People's Party [Johan LEONARD]; United People's Labor Party[Bienvenido RICHARDSON]note: political parties are indigenous to each island
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Employers Association (VBC); Unions (AVBO)
International organization participation:
Caricom (observer), ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, UNESCO (associate),UNWTO (associate), UPU, WCL, WCO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (represented by the Kingdom of the Netherlands); note - Mr. Jeffrey CORRION, Minister Plenipotentiary for Aruba at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Consul General Robert E. SORENSON consulate(s) general: J. B. Gorsiraweg #1, Willemstad, Curacao mailing address: P. O. Box 158, Willemstad, Curacao telephone: [599] (9) 461-3066 FAX: [599] (9) 461-6489
Flag description:
white, with a horizontal blue stripe in the center superimposed on a vertical red band, also centered; five white, five-pointed stars are arranged in an oval pattern in the center of the blue band; the five stars represent the five main islands of Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten
EconomyNetherlands Antilles
Economy - overview:
Tourism, petroleum refining, and offshore finance are the mainstays of this small economy, which is closely tied to the outside world. Although GDP has declined or grown slightly in each of the past eight years, the islands enjoy a high per capita income and a well-developed infrastructure compared with other countries in the region. Most of the oil Netherlands Antilles imports for its refineries come from Venezuela. Almost all consumer and capital goods are imported, the US, Italy, and Mexico being the major suppliers. Poor soils and inadequate water supplies hamper the development of agriculture. Budgetary problems hamper reform of the health and pension systems of an aging population. The Netherlands provides financial aid to support the economy.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$2.8 billion (2004 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
GDP - real growth rate:
1% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$16,000 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1% industry: 15% services: 84% (2000 est.)
Labor force:
83,600 (2005)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 1% industry: 20% services: 79% (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate:
17% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line:
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $757.9 million expenditures: $949.5 million (2004)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.1% (2003 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
NA (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
9.21% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$1.133 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$2.309 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$2.927 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
aloes, sorghum, peanuts, vegetables, tropical fruit
Industries:
tourism (Curacao, Sint Maarten, and Bonaire), petroleum refining (Curacao), petroleum transshipment facilities (Curacao and Bonaire), light manufacturing (Curacao)
Industrial production growth rate:
Electricity - production:
1.195 billion kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - consumption:
992 million kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption:
67,450 bbl/day (2006 est.)
Oil - exports:
206,900 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - imports:
277,600 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
Exports:
$3.71 billion f.o.b. (2006)
Exports - commodities:
petroleum products
Exports - partners:
US 18.9%, Mexico 13.3%, Panama 11.4%, Singapore 6.9%, Haiti 6.6%,Bahamas, The 5.3% (2007)
Imports:
$15.74 billion f.o.b. (2006)
Imports - commodities:
crude petroleum, food, manufactures
Imports - partners:
Venezuela 59.1%, US 17.7%, Brazil 7.1% (2007)
Economic aid - recipient:
$21.32 million (2004)
Debt - external:
$2.68 billion (2004)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$488.6 billion (2003)
Currency (code):
Netherlands Antillean guilder (ANG)
Currency code:
Exchange rates:
Netherlands Antillean guilders (ANG) per US dollar - NA (2007), 1.79 (2006), 1.79 (2005), 1.79 (2004), 1.79 (2003)
CommunicationsNetherlands Antilles
Telephones - main lines in use:
81,000 (2001)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
200,000 (2004)
Telephone system:
general assessment: generally adequate facilities domestic: extensive interisland microwave radio relay links international: country code - 599; the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1) and the Americas-2 submarine cable systems provide connectivity to Central America, parts of South America and the Caribbean, and the US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 8, FM 19, shortwave 0 (2003)
Radios:
217,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
3 (there is also a cable service that supplies programs received from various US satellite networks and 4 Venezuelan channels) (2003)
Televisions:
69,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.an
Internet hosts:
47,597 (2008)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
6
Internet users:
2,000 (2000)
TransportationNetherlands Antilles
Airports:
5 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 5 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2007)
Roadways:
total: 845
Merchant marine:
total: 147 by type: barge carrier 2, bulk carrier 2, cargo 72, carrier 19, chemical tanker 2, container 8, liquefied gas 1, passenger 2, petroleum tanker 3, refrigerated cargo 27, roll on/roll off 6, specialized tanker 3 foreign-owned: 123 (Belgium 1, Cuba 1, Cyprus 21, Denmark 2, Germany 43, Hong Kong 2, Netherlands 38, Norway 3, Sweden 1, Turkey 10, US 1) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Bopec Terminal, Willemstad
MilitaryNetherlands Antilles
Military branches:
no regular military forces; National Guard (2008)
Military service age and obligation:
16 years of age for National Guard recruitment; no conscription (2004)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 55,365 females age 16-49: 57,060 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 46,102 females age 16-49: 47,219 (2008 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 1,855 female: 1,760 (2008 est.)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Transnational IssuesNetherlands Antilles
Disputes - international:
none
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for South American drugs bound for the US and Europe; money-laundering center
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008
======================================================================
@New Caledonia
IntroductionNew Caledonia
Background:
Settled by both Britain and France during the first half of the 19th century, the island was made a French possession in 1853. It served as a penal colony for four decades after 1864. Agitation for independence during the 1980s and early 1990s ended in the 1998 Noumea Accord, which over a period of 15 to 20 years will transfer an increasing amount of governing responsibility from France to New Caledonia. The agreement also commits France to conduct as many as three referenda between 2013 and 2018, to decide whether New Caledonia should assume full sovereignty and independence.
GeographyNew Caledonia
Location:
Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Australia
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total: 19,060 sq km land: 18,575 sq km water: 485 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than New Jersey
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
2,254 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical; modified by southeast trade winds; hot, humid
Terrain:
coastal plains with interior mountains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Mont Panie 1,628 m
Natural resources:
nickel, chrome, iron, cobalt, manganese, silver, gold, lead, copper
Land use:
arable land: 0.32% permanent crops: 0.22% other: 99.46% (2005)
Irrigated land:
100 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:
cyclones, most frequent from November to March
Environment - current issues:
erosion caused by mining exploitation and forest fires
Geography - note:
consists of the main island of New Caledonia (one of the largest in the Pacific Ocean), the archipelago of Iles Loyaute, and numerous small, sparsely populated islands and atolls
PeopleNew Caledonia
Population:
224,824 (July 2008 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 27.3% (male 31,376/female 30,064) 15-64 years: 65.6% (male 74,064/female 73,369) 65 years and over: 7.1% (male 7,377/female 8,574) (2008 est.)
Median age:
total: 28.4 years male: 28 years female: 28.8 years (2008 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.175% (2008 est.)
Birth rate:
17.39 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate:
5.64 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Net migration rate:
NA note: there has been steady emigration from Wallis and Futuna to New Caledonia (2008 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 7.19 deaths/1,000 live births male: 7.85 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.75 years male: 71.76 years female: 77.88 years (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.21 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Nationality:
noun: New Caledonian(s) adjective: New Caledonian
Ethnic groups:
Melanesian 44.1%, European 34.1%, Wallisian & Futunian 9%, Tahitian 2.6%, Indonesian 2.5%, Vietnamese 1.4%, Ni-Vanuatu 1.1%, other 5.2% (1996 census)
Religions:
Roman Catholic 60%, Protestant 30%, other 10%
Languages:
French (official), 33 Melanesian-Polynesian dialects
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 96.2% male: 96.8% female: 95.5% (1996 census)
GovernmentNew Caledonia
Country name:
conventional long form: Territory of New Caledonia and Dependencies conventional short form: New Caledonia local long form: Territoire des Nouvelle-Caledonie et Dependances local short form: Nouvelle-Caledonie
Dependency status:
territorial collectivity of France since 1998
Government type:
Capital:
name: Noumea geographic coordinates: 22 16 S, 166 27 E time difference: UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
none (overseas territory of France); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 3 provinces named Province des Iles, Province Nord, and Province Sud
Independence:
none (overseas territory of France); note - a referendum on independence was held in 1998 but did not pass; a new referendum is scheduled for 2014
National holiday:
Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
Constitution:
4 October 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system:
based on French civil law; the 1988 Matignon Accords grant substantial autonomy to the islands
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Nicolas SARKOZY (since 16 May 2007); represented by High Commissioner Yves DASSONVILLE (since 9 November 2007) head of government: President of the Government Harold MARTIN (since 7 August 2007) cabinet: Cabinet consisting of 11 members elected from and by the Territorial Congress elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; high commissioner appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; president of the government elected by the members of the Territorial Congress for a five-year term (no term limits); note - last election held 7 August 2007 when Harold MARTIN was elected following the resignation of Marie-Noelle THEMEREAU as president on 24 July 2007 (next to be held in 2012)
Legislative branch:
unicameral Territorial Congress or Congres du territoire (54 seats; members belong to the three Provincial Assemblies or Assemblees Provinciales elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 9 May 2004 (next to be held in 2009) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RPCR-UMP 16, AE 16, UNI-FLNKS 8, UC 7, FN 4, others 3 note: New Caledonia currently holds one seat in the French Senate; by 2010, New Caledonia will gain a second seat in the French Senate; elections last held 24 September 2001 (next to be held not later than September 2007); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UMP 1; New Caledonia also elects two seats to the French National Assembly; elections last held 10 and 17 June 2007 (next to be held on June 2012); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UMP 2
Judicial branch:
Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; County Courts; Joint CommerceTribunal Court; Children's Court
Political parties and leaders:
Alliance pour la Caledonie or APLC [Didier LE ROUX]; CaledonianUnion or UC; Federation des Comites de Coordination desIndependantistes or FCCI [Francois BURCK]; Front National or FN [GuyGEORGE]; Front Uni de Liberation Kanak or FULK [Ernest UNE]; KanakSocialist Front for National Liberation or FLNKS (includes PALIKA,UNI, UC, and UPM); Parti de Liberation Kanak or PALIKA [PaulNEAOUTYINE and Elie POIGOUNE]; Rally for Caledonia in the Republic(anti independence) or RPCR-UMP [Jacques LAFLEUR]; The FutureTogether or AE [Harold MARTIN]; Union Nationale pour l'Independanceor UNI [Paul NEAOUTYINE]; note - may no longer exist, but PaulNEAOUTYINE has since become a president of Parti de Liberation Kanakor PALIKA; Union Progressiste Melanesienne or UPM [Victor TUTUGORO]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
International organization participation:
ITUC, PIF (associate member), SPC, UPU, WFTU, WMO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (overseas territory of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (overseas territory of France)
Flag description:
the flag of France is used
EconomyNew Caledonia
Economy - overview:
New Caledonia has about 25% of the world's known nickel resources. Only a small amount of the land is suitable for cultivation, and food accounts for about 20% of imports. In addition to nickel, substantial financial support from France - equal to more than 15% of GDP - and tourism are keys to the health of the economy. Substantial new investment in the nickel industry, combined with the recovery of global nickel prices, brightens the economic outlook for the next several years.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$3.158 billion (2003 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$3.3 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$15,000 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 15% industry: 8.8% services: 76.2% (2003)
Labor force:
78,990 (2004)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 20% industry: 20% services: 60% (2002)
Unemployment rate:
17.1% (2004)
Population below poverty line:
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $996 million expenditures: $1.072 billion (2001 est.)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.4% (2000 est.)
Agriculture - products:
vegetables; beef, deer, other livestock products; fish
Industries:
nickel mining and smelting
Industrial production growth rate:
-0.6% (1996)
Electricity - production:
1.602 billion kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - consumption:
1.49 billion kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 76.3% hydro: 23.7% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - consumption:
11,560 bbl/day (2006 est.)
Oil - exports:
356.2 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - imports:
11,780 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
Exports:
$1.341 billion f.o.b. (2006)
Exports - commodities:
ferronickels, nickel ore, fish
Exports - partners:
Japan 20.1%, China 14.5%, Taiwan 14.2%, France 11.6%, Belgium 10.4%,Spain 8.6%, South Africa 6.9% (2007)
Imports:
$1.998 billion f.o.b. (2006)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, fuels, chemicals, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
France 36.7%, Singapore 14.7%, Australia 12.1%, NZ 5.2%, Germany 4.6% (2007)
Economic aid - recipient:
$524.3 million annual subsidy from France (2004)
Debt - external:
$79 million (1998 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
Currency (code):
Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (XPF)
Currency code:
Exchange rates:
Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per US dollar - 87.59 (2007), 95.025 (2006), 95.89 (2005), 96.04 (2004), 105.66 (2003)
CommunicationsNew Caledonia
Telephones - main lines in use:
60,200 (2007)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
176,400 (2007)
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA domestic: a submarine cable network connection between New Caledonia and Australia, completed in 2007, is expected to significantly increase network capacity and improve high-speed connectivity and access to international networks international: country code - 687; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2007)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
107,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
6 (plus 25 repeaters) (1997)
Televisions:
52,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.nc
Internet hosts:
15,487 (2008)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)
Internet users:
80,000 (2006)
TransportationNew Caledonia
Airports:
25 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 12 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 2 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 13 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 6 (2007)
Heliports:
6 (2007)
Roadways:
total: 5,622 km (2006)
Merchant marine:
total: 2 by type: cargo 1, passenger/cargo 1 (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Noumea
MilitaryNew Caledonia
Military branches:
no regular indigenous military forces; French Armed Forces (includes Army, Navy, Air Force, Gendarmerie); Police Force
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 57,738 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 47,342 (2008 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 2,202 female: 2,121 (2008 est.)
Military expenditures:
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational IssuesNew Caledonia
Disputes - international:
Matthew and Hunter Islands east of New Caledonia claimed by France and Vanuatu
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008
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@New Zealand
IntroductionNew Zealand
Background:
The Polynesian Maori reached New Zealand in about A.D. 800. In 1840, their chieftains entered into a compact with Britain, the Treaty of Waitangi, in which they ceded sovereignty to Queen Victoria while retaining territorial rights. In that same year, the British began the first organized colonial settlement. A series of land wars between 1843 and 1872 ended with the defeat of the native peoples. The British colony of New Zealand became an independent dominion in 1907 and supported the UK militarily in both World Wars. New Zealand's full participation in a number of defense alliances lapsed by the 1980s. In recent years, the government has sought to address longstanding Maori grievances.
GeographyNew Zealand