general assessment: modern system domestic: extensive microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, and fiber-optic cable systems; mobile-cellular subscribership has been increasing rapidly international: country code - 966; landing point for the international submarine cable Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG) and for both the SEA-ME-WE-3 and SEA-ME-WE-4 submarine cable networks providing connectivity to Asia, Middle East, Europe, and US; microwave radio relay to Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, UAE, Yemen, and Sudan; coaxial cable to Kuwait and Jordan; satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (3 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean), 1 Arabsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Indian Ocean region)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 43, FM 31, shortwave 2 (1998)
Radios:
6.25 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
117 (1997)
Televisions:
5.1 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.sa
Internet hosts:
141,232 (2008)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
22 (2003)
Internet users:
6.2 million (2007)
TransportationSaudi Arabia
Airports:
213 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 77 over 3,047 m: 32 2,438 to 3,047 m: 15 1,524 to 2,437 m: 26 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 2 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 136 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8 1,524 to 2,437 m: 73 914 to 1,523 m: 39 under 914 m: 15 (2007)
Heliports:
8 (2007)
Pipelines:
condensate 212 km; gas 1,880 km; liquid petroleum gas 1,183 km; oil 4,521 km; refined products 1,148 km (2007)
Railways:
total: 1,392 km standard gauge: 1,392 km 1.435-m gauge (with branch lines and sidings) (2006)
Roadways:
total: 221,372 km paved: 47,529 km (includes 3,891 km of expressways) unpaved: 173,843 km (2006)
Merchant marine:
total: 62 by type: cargo 5, chemical tanker 13, container 5, passenger/cargo 8, petroleum tanker 20, refrigerated cargo 3, roll on/roll off 8 foreign-owned: 12 (Egypt 1, Greece 3, Kuwait 7, UAE 1) registered in other countries: 71 (Bahamas 16, Comoros 1, Dominica 2, France 1, Liberia 27, Marshall Islands 5, Norway 3, Panama 16) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Ad Dammam, Al Jubayl, Jiddah, Yanbu' al Sinaiyah
MilitarySaudi Arabia
Military branches:
Land Forces (Army), Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Force, NationalGuard, Ministry of Interior Forces (paramilitary)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2004)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 8,547,441 females age 16-49: 6,381,098 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 7,398,417 females age 16-49: 5,525,357 (2008 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 271,905 female: 261,795 (2008 est.)
Military expenditures:
10% of GDP (2005 est.)
Transnational IssuesSaudi Arabia
Disputes - international:
Saudi Arabia has reinforced its concrete-filled security barrier along sections of the now fully demarcated border with Yemen to stem illegal cross-border activities; Kuwait and Saudi Arabia continue discussions on a maritime boundary with Iran
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 240,015 (Palestinian Territories) (2007)
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Saudi Arabia is a destination country for workers from South and Southeast Asia who are subjected to conditions that constitute involuntary servitude including being subjected to physical and sexual abuse, non-payment of wages, confinement, and withholding of passports as a restriction on their movement; domestic workers are particularly vulnerable because some are confined to the house in which they work unable to seek help; Saudi Arabia is also a destination country for Nigerian, Yemeni, Pakistani, Afghan, Somali, Malian, and Sudanese children trafficked for forced begging and involuntary servitude as street vendors; some Nigerian women were reportedly trafficked into Saudi Arabia for commercial sexual exploitation tier rating: Tier 3 - Saudi Arabia does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; the government continues to lack adequate anti-trafficking laws and, despite evidence of widespread trafficking abuses, did not report any criminal prosecutions, convictions, or prison sentences for trafficking crimes committed against foreign domestic workers (2008)
Illicit drugs:
death penalty for traffickers; improving anti-money-laundering legislation and enforcement
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008
======================================================================
@Senegal
IntroductionSenegal
Background:
The French colonies of Senegal and the French Sudan were merged in 1959 and granted their independence as the Mali Federation in 1960. The union broke up after only a few months. Senegal joined with The Gambia to form the nominal confederation of Senegambia in 1982, but the envisaged integration of the two countries was never carried out, and the union was dissolved in 1989. The Movement of Democratic Forces in the Casamance (MFDC) has led a low-level separatist insurgency in southern Senegal since the 1980s, and several peace deals have failed to resolve the conflict. Nevertheless, Senegal remains one of the most stable democracies in Africa. Senegal was ruled by a Socialist Party for 40 years until current President Abdoulaye WADE was elected in 2000. He was reelected in February 2007, but complaints of fraud led opposition parties to boycott June 2007 legislative polls. Senegal has a long history of participating in international peacekeeping.
GeographySenegal
Location:
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, betweenGuinea-Bissau and Mauritania
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 196,190 sq km land: 192,000 sq km water: 4,190 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than South Dakota
Land boundaries:
total: 2,640 km border countries: The Gambia 740 km, Guinea 330 km, Guinea-Bissau 338 km, Mali 419 km, Mauritania 813 km
Coastline:
531 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate:
tropical; hot, humid; rainy season (May to November) has strong southeast winds; dry season (December to April) dominated by hot, dry, harmattan wind
Terrain:
generally low, rolling, plains rising to foothills in southeast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed feature near Nepen Diakha 581 m
Natural resources:
fish, phosphates, iron ore
Land use:
arable land: 12.51% permanent crops: 0.24% other: 87.25% (2005)
Irrigated land:
1,200 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
39.4 cu km (1987)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 2.22 cu km/yr (4%/3%/93%) per capita: 190 cu m/yr (2002)
Natural hazards:
lowlands seasonally flooded; periodic droughts
Environment - current issues:
wildlife populations threatened by poaching; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; overfishing
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
Geography - note:
westernmost country on the African continent; The Gambia is almost an enclave within Senegal
PeopleSenegal
Population:
12,853,259 (July 2008 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 41.9% (male 2,717,257/female 2,668,602) 15-64 years: 55.1% (male 3,524,683/female 3,552,643) 65 years and over: 3% (male 183,188/female 206,886) (2008 est.)
Median age:
total: 18.8 years male: 18.6 years female: 19 years (2008 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.58% (2008 est.)
Birth rate:
36.52 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate:
10.72 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 58.93 deaths/1,000 live births male: 62.79 deaths/1,000 live births female: 54.96 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 57.08 years male: 55.7 years female: 58.5 years (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.86 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.8% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
44,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
3,500 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, dengue fever, malaria, Rift Valley fever, and yellow fever water contact disease: schistosomiasis respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2008)
Nationality:
noun: Senegalese (singular and plural) adjective: Senegalese
Ethnic groups:
Wolof 43.3%, Pular 23.8%, Serer 14.7%, Jola 3.7%, Mandinka 3%,Soninke 1.1%, European and Lebanese 1%, other 9.4%
Religions:
Muslim 94%, Christian 5% (mostly Roman Catholic), indigenous beliefs 1%
Languages:
French (official), Wolof, Pulaar, Jola, Mandinka
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 39.3% male: 51.1% female: 29.2% (2002 est.)
Education expenditures:
5% of GDP (2006)
GovernmentSenegal
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Senegal conventional short form: Senegal local long form: Republique du Senegal local short form: Senegal former: Senegambia (along with The Gambia), Mali Federation
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Dakar geographic coordinates: 14 40 N, 17 26 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
11 regions (regions, singular - region); Dakar, Diourbel, Fatick, Kaolack, Kolda, Louga, Matam, Saint-Louis, Tambacounda, Thies, Ziguinchor
Independence:
4 April 1960 (from France); note - complete independence achieved upon dissolution of federation with Mali on 20 August 1960
National holiday:
Independence Day, 4 April (1960)
Constitution:
adopted 7 January 2001
Legal system:
based on French civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Court; the Council of State audits the government's accounting office; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Abdoulaye WADE (since 1 April 2000) head of government: Prime Minister Cheikh Hadjibou SOUMARE (since 19 June 2007) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister in consultation with the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term) under new constitution; election last held on 25 February 2007 (next to be held in 2012); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Abdoulaye WADE reelected president in the first round of voting; percent of vote - Abdoulaye WADE 55.9%, Idrissa SECK 14.9%, Ousmane Tanor DIENG 13.6%, Moustapha NIASSE 5.9%, other 9.7%
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consisting of the National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (150 seats; 90 members elected by direct popular vote with the remaining members elected by proportional representation from party lists to serve five-year terms) and the Senate reinstituted in 2007 (100 seats; 35 indirectly elected with the remaining 65 members to be appointed by the president) elections: National Assembly - last held on 3 June 2007 (next to be held 2012); note - the National Assembly in December 2005 voted to postpone legislative elections originally scheduled for 2006; legislative elections were first rescheduled to coincide with the 25 February 2007 presidential elections and later rescheduled for 3 June 2007; the June election was boycotted by 12 opposition parties, including the former ruling Socialist Party, that resulted in a record-low, 35-percent voter turnout; Senate - last held 19 August 2007 (next to be held - NA) election results: National Assembly results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - SOPI Coalition 131, other 19; Senate results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PDS 34, AJ/PADS 1, 65 appointed by the president
Judicial branch:
Constitutional Court; Council of State; Court of Final Appeals orCour de Cassation; Court of Appeals
Political parties and leaders:
African Party of Independence [Majhemout DIOP]; And-Jef/AfricanParty for Democracy and Socialism or AJ/PADS [Landing SAVANE];Alliance of Forces of Progress or AFP [Moustapha NIASSE]; DemocraticLeague-Labor Party Movement or LD-MPT [Dr. Abdoulaye BATHILY]; Frontfor Socialism and Democracy/Benno Jubel or FSD/BJ [Cheikh AbdoulayeBamba DIEYE]; Gainde Centrist Bloc or BGC [Jean-Paul DIAS];Independence and Labor Party or PIT [Amath DANSOKHO]; Jef-Jel [TallaSYLLA]; National Democratic Rally or RND [Madior DIOUF]; People'sLabor Party or PTP [Elhadji DIOUF]; Reform Party or PR [AbdourahimAGNE]; Senegalese Democratic Party or PDS [Abdoulaye WADE];Socialist Party or PS [Ousmane Tanor DIENG]; SOPI Coalition[Abdoulaye WADE] (a coalition led by the PDS); Union for DemocraticRenewal or URD [Djibo Leyti KA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
other: labor; students; Sufi brotherhoods, including the Mourides and Tidjanes; teachers
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, CPLP (associate), ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-15, G-77, IAEA,IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU,ITUC, MIGA, MINURCAT, MONUC, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNAMID,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WADB(regional), WAEMU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Amadou Lamine BA chancery: 2112 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 234-0540 FAX: [1] (202) 332-6315 consulate(s) general: Houston, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Marcia S. BERNICAT embassy: Avenue Jean XXIII at the corner of Rue Kleber, Dakar mailing address: B. P. 49, Dakar telephone: [221] 33-829-2100 FAX: [221] 33-822-2991
Flag description:
three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), yellow, and red with a small green five-pointed star centered in the yellow band; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
EconomySenegal
Economy - overview:
In January 1994, Senegal undertook a bold and ambitious economic reform program with the support of the international donor community. This reform began with a 50% devaluation of Senegal's currency, the CFA franc, which was linked at a fixed rate to the French franc. Government price controls and subsidies have been steadily dismantled. After seeing its economy contract by 2.1% in 1993, Senegal made an important turnaround, thanks to the reform program, with real growth in GDP averaging over 5% annually during 1995-2007. Annual inflation had been pushed down to the low single digits. As a member of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU), Senegal is working toward greater regional integration with a unified external tariff and a more stable monetary policy. High unemployment, however, continues to prompt illegal migrants to flee Senegal in search of better job opportunities in Europe. Senegal was also beset by an energy crisis that caused widespread blackouts in 2006 and 2007. The phosphate industry has struggled for two years to secure capital, and reduced output has directly impacted GDP. In 2007, Senegal signed agreements for major new mining concessions for iron, zircon, and gold with foreign companies. Firms from Dubai have agreed to manage and modernize Dakar's maritime port, and create a new special economic zone. Senegal still relies heavily upon outside donor assistance. Under the IMF's Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) debt relief program, Senegal has benefited from eradication of two-thirds of its bilateral, multilateral, and private-sector debt. In 2007, Senegal and the IMF agreed to a new, non-disbursing, Policy Support Initiative program.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$21.02 billion (2007 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$11.12 billion (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4.6% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,700 (2007 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 16% industry: 19.4% services: 64.6% (2007 est.)
Labor force:
4.85 million (2007 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 77.5% industry and services: 22.5% (2007 est.)
Unemployment rate:
48% (2007 est.)
Population below poverty line:
54% (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.7% highest 10%: 33.4% (2001)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
41.3 (2001)
Investment (gross fixed):
25.2% of GDP (2007 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $2.614 billion expenditures: $3.036 billion (2007 est.)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Public debt:
22.9% of GDP (2007 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5.9% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
4.25% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
NA (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$2.842 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$1.579 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$2.97 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
peanuts, millet, corn, sorghum, rice, cotton, tomatoes, green vegetables; cattle, poultry, pigs; fish
Industries:
agricultural and fish processing, phosphate mining, fertilizer production, petroleum refining; iron ore, zircon, and gold mining, construction materials, ship construction and repair
Industrial production growth rate:
5.2% (2007 est.)
Electricity - production:
2.28 billion kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - consumption:
1.657 billion 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:
36,200 bbl/day (2006 est.)
Oil - exports:
4,298 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - imports:
40,450 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)
Natural gas - production:
50 million cu m (2006 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
50 million cu m (2006 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
NA cu m
Natural gas - imports:
NA cu m
Natural gas - proved reserves:
NA cu m
Current account balance:
-$1.458 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
$1.65 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
fish, groundnuts (peanuts), petroleum products, phosphates, cotton
Exports - partners:
Mali 18.9%, France 9.1%, Italy 5.9%, India 5.7%, Gambia, The 5.2% (2007)
Imports:
$3.731 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
food and beverages, capital goods, fuels
Imports - partners:
France 22.2%, Netherlands 10%, China 7.4%, UK 6.2%, Thailand 5.2%,Belgium 4.5% (2007)
Economic aid - recipient:
$477 million (2007 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$1.66 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$2.19 billion (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
Currency (code):
Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible authority is the Central Bank of the West African States
Currency code:
Exchange rates:
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 481.83 (2007), 522.89 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003) note: since 1 January 1999, the XOF franc has been pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 XOF francs per euro
CommunicationsSenegal
Telephones - main lines in use:
269,100 (2007)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
4.123 million (2007)
Telephone system:
general assessment: good system domestic: above-average urban system with a fiber-optic network; nearly two-thirds of all fixed-line connections are in Dakar where a call-center industry is emerging; expansion of fixed-line services in rural areas needed; mobile-cellular service is expanding rapidly; microwave radio relay, coaxial cable and fiber-optic cable in trunk system international: country code - 221; the SAT-3/WASC fiber optic cable provides connectivity to Europe and Asia while Atlantis-2 provides connectivity to South America; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2007)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 8, FM 20, shortwave 1 (2001)
Radios:
1.24 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
4 (2007)
Televisions:
361,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.sn
Internet hosts:
217 (2008)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2002)
Internet users:
820,000 (2007)
TransportationSenegal
Airports:
20 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 9 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 11 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 1 (2007)
Pipelines:
gas 43 km (2007)
Railways:
total: 906 km narrow gauge: 906 km 1.000 meter gauge (2006)
Roadways:
total: 13,576 km paved: 3,972 km (includes 7 km of expressways) unpaved: 9,604 km (2003)
Waterways:
1,000 km (primarily on Senegal, Saloum, and Casamance rivers) (2005)
Ports and terminals:
Dakar
MilitarySenegal
Military branches:
Army, Senegalese Navy (Marine Senegalaise), Senegalese Air Force(Armee de l'Air du Senegal) (2008)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscript service obligation - 2 years (2004)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,943,619 females age 16-49: 2,955,179 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,866,602 females age 16-49: 1,947,076 (2008 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 141,832 female: 139,541 (2008 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.4% of GDP (2005 est.)
Transnational IssuesSenegal
Disputes - international:
The Gambia and Guinea-Bissau attempt to stem separatist violence, cross border raids, and arms smuggling into their countries from Senegal's Casamance region, and in 2006, respectively accepted 6,000 and 10,000 Casamance residents fleeing the conflict; 2,500 Guinea-Bissau residents fled into Senegal in 2006 to escape armed confrontations along the border
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 19,630 (Mauritania) IDPs: 22,400 (approximately 65% of the IDP population returned in 2005, but new displacement is occurring due to clashes between government troops and separatists in Casamance region) (2007)
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin and South American cocaine moving to Europe and North America; illicit cultivator of cannabis
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008
======================================================================
@Serbia
IntroductionSerbia
Background:
The Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes was formed in 1918; its name was changed to Yugoslavia in 1929. Various paramilitary bands resisted Nazi Germany's occupation and division of Yugoslavia from 1941 to 1945, but fought each other and ethnic opponents as much as the invaders. The military and political movement headed by Josip TITO (Partisans) took full control of Yugoslavia when German and Croatian separatist forces were defeated in 1945. Although Communist, TITO's new government and his successors (he died in 1980) managed to steer their own path between the Warsaw Pact nations and the West for the next four and a half decades. In 1989, Slobodan MILOSEVIC became president of the Serbian Republic and his ultranationalist calls for Serbian domination led to the violent breakup of Yugoslavia along ethnic lines. In 1991, Croatia, Slovenia, and Macedonia declared independence, followed by Bosnia in 1992. The remaining republics of Serbia and Montenegro declared a new Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) in April 1992 and under MILOSEVIC's leadership, Serbia led various military campaigns to unite ethnic Serbs in neighboring republics into a "Greater Serbia." These actions led to Yugoslavia being ousted from the UN in 1992, but Serbia continued its - ultimately unsuccessful - campaign until signing the Dayton Peace Accords in 1995. MILOSEVIC kept tight control over Serbia and eventually became president of the FRY in 1997. In 1998, an ethnic Albanian insurgency in the formerly autonomous Serbian province of Kosovo provoked a Serbian counterinsurgency campaign that resulted in massacres and massive expulsions of ethnic Albanians living in Kosovo. The MILOSEVIC government's rejection of a proposed international settlement led to NATO's bombing of Serbia in the spring of 1999 and to the eventual withdrawal of Serbian military and police forces from Kosovo in June 1999. UNSC Resolution 1244 in June 1999 authorized the stationing of a NATO-led force (KFOR) in Kosovo to provide a safe and secure environment for the region's ethnic communities, created a UN interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) to foster self-governing institutions, and reserved the issue of Kosovo's final status for an unspecified date in the future. In 2001, UNMIK promulgated a constitutional framework that allowed Kosovo to establish institutions of self-government and led to Kosovo's first parliamentary election. FRY elections in September 2000 led to the ouster of MILOSEVIC and installed Vojislav KOSTUNICA as president. A broad coalition of democratic reformist parties known as DOS (the Democratic Opposition of Serbia) was subsequently elected to parliament in December 2000 and took control of the government. DOS arrested MILOSEVIC in 2001 and allowed for him to be tried in The Hague for crimes against humanity. (MILOSEVIC died in March 2006 before the completion of his trial.) In 2001, the country's suspension from the UN was lifted. In 2003, the FRY became Serbia and Montenegro, a loose federation of the two republics with a federal level parliament. Widespread violence predominantly targeting ethnic Serbs in Kosovo in March 2004 caused the international community to open negotiations on the future status of Kosovo in January 2006. In May 2006, Montenegro invoked its right to secede from the federation and - following a successful referendum - it declared itself an independent nation on 3 June 2006. Two days later, Serbia declared that it was the successor state to the union of Serbia and Montenegro. A new Serbian constitution was approved in October 2006 and adopted the following month. After 15 months of inconclusive negotiations mediated by the UN and four months of further inconclusive negotiations mediated by the US, EU, and Russia, on 17 February 2008, the UNMIK-administered province of Kosovo declared itself independent of Serbia.
GeographySerbia
Location:
Southeastern Europe, between Macedonia and Hungary
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 77,474 sq km land: 77,474 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than South Carolina
Land boundaries:
total: 2,026 kmborder countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina 302 km, Bulgaria 318 km,Croatia 241 km, Hungary 151 km, Kosovo 352 km, Macedonia 62 km,Montenegro 124 km, Romania 476 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
in the north, continental climate (cold winters and hot, humid summers with well distributed rainfall); in other parts, continental and Mediterranean climate (relatively cold winters with heavy snowfall and hot, dry summers and autumns)
Terrain:
extremely varied; to the north, rich fertile plains; to the east, limestone ranges and basins; to the southeast, ancient mountains and hills
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: NA highest point: Midzor 2,169 m
Natural resources:
oil, gas, coal, iron ore, copper, zinc, antimony, chromite, gold, silver, magnesium, pyrite, limestone, marble, salt, arable land
Land use:
arable land: NA permanent crops: NA other: NA
Irrigated land:
Total renewable water resources:
208.5 cu km (note - includes Kosovo) (2003)
Natural hazards:
destructive earthquakes
Environment - current issues:
air pollution around Belgrade and other industrial cities; water pollution from industrial wastes dumped into the Sava which flows into the Danube
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
controls one of the major land routes from Western Europe to Turkey and the Near East
PeopleSerbia
Population:
10,159,046 note: all population data includes Kosovo (July 2008 est.)
Median age:
total: 37.5 years male: 36.1 years female: 39 years (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.29 years male: 72.7 years female: 78.09 years (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.69 children born/woman (2008 est.)
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: intermediate food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A vectorborne disease: Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2008)
Nationality:
noun: Serb(s) adjective: Serbian
Ethnic groups:
Serb 82.9%, Hungarian 3.9%, Romany (Gypsy) 1.4%, Yugoslavs 1.1%,Bosniaks 1.8%, Montenegrin 0.9%, other 8% (2002 census)
Religions:
Serbian Orthodox 85%, Catholic 5.5%, Protestant 1.1%, Muslim 3.2%, unspecified 2.6%, other, unknown, or atheist 2.6% (2002 census)
Languages:
Serbian 88.3% (official), Hungarian 3.8%, Bosniak 1.8%, Romany (Gypsy) 1.1%, other 4.1%, unknown 0.9% (2002 census) note: Romanian, Hungarian, Slovak, Ukrainian, and Croatian all official in Vojvodina
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 96.4% male: 98.9% female: 94.1% (2003 census) note: includes Montenegro
Education expenditures:
GovernmentSerbia
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Serbia conventional short form: Serbia local long form: Republika Srbija local short form: Srbija former: People's Republic of Serbia, Socialist Republic of Serbia
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Belgrade (Beograd) geographic coordinates: 44 50 N, 20 30 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Administrative divisions:
161 municipalities (opcstine, singular - opcstina)Serbia Proper: Beograd: Barajevo, Cukavica, Grocka, Lazarevac,Mladnovac, Novi Beograd, Obrenovac, Palilula, Rakovica, SavskiVenac, Sopot, Stari Grad, Surcin, Vozdovac, Vracar, Zemun, Zrezdara;Borski Okrug: Bor, Kladovo, Majdanpek, Negotin; Branicevski Okrug:Golubac, Kucevo, Malo Crnice, Petrovac, Pozarevac, Veliko Gradiste,Zabari, Zagubica; Jablanicki Okrug: Bojnik, Crna Trava, Lebane,Leskovac, Medvedja, Vlasotince; Kolubarski Okrug: Lajkovac, Ljig,Mionica, Osecina, Ub, Valjevo; Macvanski Okrug: Bogatic, Koceljeva,Krupanj, Ljubovija, Loznica, Mali Zvornik, Sabac, Vladimirci;Moravicki Okrug: Cacak, Gornkji Milanovac, Ivanjica, Lucani;Nisavski Okrug: Aleksinac, Doljevac, Gadzin Han, Merosina, Nis,Razanj, Svrljig; Pcinjski Okrug: Bosilegrad, Bujanovac, Presevo,Surdulica, Trgoviste, Vladicin Han, Vranje; Pirotski Okrug:Babusnica, Bela Palanka, Dimitrovgrad, Pirot; Podunavski Okrug:Smederevo, Smederevskia Palanka, Velika Plana; Pomoravski Okrug:Cuprija, Despotovac, Jagodina, Paracin, Rckovac, Svilajnac; RasinskiOkrug: Aleksandrovac, Brus, Cicevac, Krusevac, Trstenik, Varvarin;Raski Okrug: Kraljevo, Novi Pazar, Raska, Tutin, Vrnjacka Banja;Sumadijski Okrug: Arandjelovac, Batocina, Knic, Kragujevac, Lapovo,Raca, Topola; Toplicki Okrug: Blace, Kursumlija, Prokuplje,Zitoradja; Zajecarski Okrug: Boljevac, Knjazevac, Sokobanja,Zalecar; Zlatiborski Okrug: Arilje, Bajina Basta, Cajetina,Kosjeric, Nova Varos, Pozega, Priboj, Prijepolje, Sjenica, UziceVojvodina Autonomous Province: Juzno-Backi Okrug: Backi Petrovac,Beocin, Novi Sad, Sremski Karlovci, Temerin, Titel, Zabalj; JuznoBanatski Okrug: Alibunar, Bela Crkva, Kovacica, Kovin, Opovo,Pancevo, Plandiste, Vrsac; Severno-Backi Okrug: Backa Topola, MaliIdjos, Subotica; Severno-Banatski Okrug: Ada, Coka, Kanjiza,Kikinda, Novi Knezevac, Senta; Srednje-Banatski Okrug: Nova Crnja,Novi Becej, Secanj, Zitiste, Zrenjanin; Sremski Okrug: Indjija,Irig, Pecinci, Ruma, Sid, Sremska Mitrovica, Stara Pazova;Zapadno-Backi Okrug: Apatin, Kula, Odzaci, Sombor
Independence:
5 June 2006 (from Serbia and Montenegro)
National holiday:
National Day, 15 February
Constitution:
adopted 8 November 2006; effective 10 November 2006
Legal system:
based on civil law system
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Boris TADIC (since 11 July 2004) head of government: Prime Minister Mirko CVETKOVIC (since 7 July 2008) cabinet: Federal Ministries act as cabinet elections: president elected by direct vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 3 February 2008 (next to be held in 2013); prime minister elected by the Assembly election results: Boris TADIC elected president in the second round of voting; Boris TADIC received 51.2% of the vote and Tomislav NIKOLIC 48.8%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (250 seats; deputies elected by direct vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held on 11 May 2008 (next to be held in May 2012) election results: percent of vote by party - For a European Serbia coalition 38.4%, SRS 29.5%, DSS-NS 11.6%, coalition led by the SPS 7.6%, LPD 5.2%, other 7.7%; seats by party - For a European Serbia 102, SRS 78, DSS-NS 30, coalition led by the SPS 20, LDP 13, other 7; note - the seat allocation for the SNS is uncertain because of an ongoing dispute with the SRS
Judicial branch:
Constitutional Court, Supreme Court (to become court of cassation under new constitution), appellate courts, district courts, municipal courts
Political parties and leaders:
Coalition of Albanians of the Presevo Valley or KAPD [Riza HALIMI];Coalition for Sandzak or KZS [Sulejman UGLJANIN]; Democratic Partyof Albanians or PDSh [Ragmi MUSTAFA]; Democratic Party of Serbia orDSS [Vojislav KOSTUNICA]; Democratic Party or DS [Boris TADIC];Democratic Union of the Valley or BDL [Skender DESTANI]; For aEuropean Serbia [Boris TADIC]; Force of Serbia Movement or PSS[Bogoljub KARIC]; G17 Plus [Mladjan DINKIC]; League of VojvodinaHungarians or SVM [Istvan PASTOR]; Liberal Democratic Party or LDP[Cedomir JOVANOVIC]; Movement for Democratic Progress or LPD [JonuzMUSLIU]; New Serbia or NS [Velimir ILIC]; Party of Democratic Actionor PVD [Riza HALIMI]; Roma Party or RP [Srdjan SAJN]; SerbianProgressive Party or SNS [Tomislav NIKOLIC]; Serbian Radical Partyor SRS [Vojislav SESELJ (currently on trial at The Hague), butTomislav NIKOLIC is acting leader]; Socialist Party of Serbia or SPS[Ivica DACIC]; Union of Roma of Serbia or URS [Rajko DJURIC]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
International organization participation:
BSEC, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, G-9, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt,ICRM, IDA, IFAD (suspended), IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO,Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUC, NAM(observer), OAS (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP,SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU,WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Ivan VUJACIC chancery: 2134 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-0333 FAX: [1] (202) 332-3933 consulate(s) general: Chicago, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Cameron MUNTER embassy: Kneza Milosa 50, 11000 Belgrade mailing address: 5070 Belgrade Place, Washington, DC 20521-5070 telephone: [381] (11) 361-9344 FAX: [381] (11) 361-8230
Flag description:
three equal horizontal stripes of red (top), blue, and white; charged with the coat of arms of Serbia shifted slightly to the hoist side
EconomySerbia
Economy - overview:
MILOSEVIC-era mismanagement of the economy, an extended period of economic sanctions, and the damage to Yugoslavia's infrastructure and industry during the NATO airstrikes in 1999 left the economy only half the size it was in 1990. After the ousting of former Federal Yugoslav President MILOSEVIC in September 2000, the Democratic Opposition of Serbia (DOS) coalition government implemented stabilization measures and embarked on a market reform program. After renewing its membership in the IMF in December 2000, a down-sized Yugoslavia continued to reintegrate into the international community by rejoining the World Bank (IBRD) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). A World Bank-European Commission sponsored Donors' Conference held in June 2001 raised $1.3 billion for economic restructuring. In November 2001, the Paris Club agreed to reschedule the country's $4.5 billion public debt and wrote off 66% of the debt. In July 2004, the London Club of private creditors forgave $1.7 billion of debt just over half the total owed. Belgrade has made only minimal progress in restructuring and privatizing its holdings in major sectors of the economy, including energy and telecommunications. It has made halting progress towards EU membership and is currently pursuing a Stabilization and Association Agreement with Brussels. Serbia is also pursuing membership in the World Trade Organization. Unemployment remains an ongoing political and economic problem.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$77.28 billion (2007 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$41.68 billion (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
7.3% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$10,400 (2007 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 12.3% industry: 24.2% services: 63.5% (2007 est.)
Labor force:
2.961 million (2002 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 30% industry: 46% services: 24% (2002)
Unemployment rate:
18.8% (2007 est.)
Population below poverty line:
6.5% (2007 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
30 (2003)
Investment (gross fixed):
20.1% of GDP (2007 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $9.6 billion expenditures: $9.8 billion (2007 est.)
Public debt:
37% of GDP (2007 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
6.8% (2007)
Central bank discount rate:
9.57% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
11.13% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$4.632 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$12.19 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$13.44 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
wheat, maize, sugar beets, sunflower, raspberries, beef, pork, milk
Industries:
sugar, agricultural machinery, electrical and communication equipment, paper and pulp, lead, transportation equipment
Industrial production growth rate:
1.8% (2007 est.)
Electricity - production:
33.87 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - consumption:
NA kWh
Electricity - exports:
12.05 billion kWh (2004 est.)
Electricity - imports:
11.23 billion kWh (2004)
Oil - production:
11,410 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - consumption:
85,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - proved reserves:
77.5 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)
Natural gas - production:
650 million cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
2.55 billion cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
2.1 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
48.14 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)
Current account balance:
-$6.889 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
$8.824 billion (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
manufactured goods, food and live animals, machinery and transport equipment
Imports:
$18.35 billion (2007 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$2 billion pledged in 2001 to Serbia and Montenegro (disbursements to follow over several years; some aid pledged by EU and US has been placed on hold because of lack of cooperation by Serbia in handing over General Ratko MLADIC to the criminal court in The Hague)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$14.22 billion (2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$26.24 billion (includes debt for Montenegro and Kosovo) (2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$11.95 billion (2006 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$5.409 billion (2005)
Currency (code):
Serbian dinar (RSD)
Exchange rates:
Serbian dinars (RSD) per US dollar - 54.5 (2007), 59.98 (2006)
CommunicationsSerbia
Telephones - main lines in use:
2.993 million (2007)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
8.453 million (2007)
Telephone system:
general assessment: modernization of the telecommunications network has been slow as a result of damage stemming from the 1999 war and transition to a competitive market-based system; network was only 65% digitalized in 2005 domestic: teledensity remains below the average for neighboring states; GSM wireless service, available through multiple providers with national coverage, is growing very rapidly; best telecommunications service limited to urban centers international: country code - 381