name: Lisbon
geographic coordinates: 38 43 N, 9 08 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:
18 districts (distritos, singular - distrito) and 2 autonomous regions* (regioes autonomas, singular - regiao autonoma); Aveiro, Acores (Azores)*, Beja, Braga, Braganca, Castelo Branco, Coimbra, Evora, Faro, Guarda, Leiria, Lisboa (Lisbon), Madeira*, Portalegre, Porto, Santarem, Setubal, Viana do Castelo, Vila Real, Viseu
Independence:
1143 (Kingdom of Portugal recognized); 5 October 1910 (republic proclaimed)
National holiday:
Portugal Day (Dia de Portugal), 10 June (1580); note - also called Camoes Day, the day that revered national poet Luis de Camoes (1524-80) died
Constitution:
adopted 2 April 1976; subsequently revised
note: the revisions placed the military under strict civilian control, trimmed the powers of the president, and laid the groundwork for a stable, pluralistic liberal democracy; and they allowed for the privatization of nationalized firms and the government-owned communications media
Legal system:
based on civil law system; the Constitutional Tribunal reviews the constitutionality of legislation; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Anibal CAVACO SILVA (since 9 March 2006)
head of government: Prime Minister Jose SOCRATES Carvalho Pinto de Sousa (since 12 March 2005)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister
note: there is also a Council of State that acts as a consultative body to the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 22 January 2006 (next to be held in January 2011); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the president
election results: Anibal CAVACO SILVA elected president; percent of vote - Anibal CAVACO SILVA 50.6%, Manuel ALEGRE 20.7%, Mario Alberto Nobre Lopes SOARES 14.3%, Jeronimo DE SOUSA 8.5%, Franciso LOUCA 5.3%
Legislative branch:
unicameral Assembly of the Republic or Assembleia da Republica (230 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 27 September 2009 (next to be held in fall 2013)
election results: percent of vote by party - PS 37.7%, PSD 30%, CDS/PP 10.8%, BE 10.2%, CDU 8.1%, other 3.2%; seats by party - PS 96, PSD 78, CDS/PP 21, BE 16, CDU 15
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (Supremo Tribunal de Justica); judges appointed for life by the Conselho Superior da Magistratura
Political parties and leaders:
Democratic and Social Center/Popular Party or CDS/PP [Paulo PORTAS];Green Ecologist Party (The Greens) or PEV [leadership commissionelected by members]; Portuguese Communist Party or PCP [Jeronimo DESOUSA]; Portuguese Socialist Party or PS [Jose SOCRATES CarvalhoPinto de Sousa]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Manuela FERREIRALEITE]; The Left Bloc or BE [Franciso Anacleto LOUCA]; UnitarianDemocratic Coalition or CDU [Jeronimo DE SOUSA] (includes PCP andPEV)
Political pressure groups and leaders:
the media; labor unions
International organization participation:
ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), AustraliaGroup, BIS, CE, CERN, CPLP, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO,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 (observer), MIGA, MINURCAT, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG,OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, SECI(observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina,UNMIT, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Joao DE VALLERA
chancery: 2012 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 328-8610
consulate(s) general: Boston, New York, Newark (New Jersey), San Francisco
consulate(s): New Bedford (Massachusetts), Providence (Rhode Island)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas F. STEPHENSON
embassy: Avenida das Forcas Armadas, 1600-081 Lisbon
mailing address: Apartado 43033, 1601-301 Lisboa; PSC 83, APO AE 09726
telephone: [351] (21) 727-3300
consulate(s): Ponta Delgada (Azores)
Flag description:
two vertical bands of green (hoist side, two-fifths) and red (three-fifths) with the Portuguese coat of arms centered on the dividing line
Economy ::Portugal
Economy - overview:
Portugal has become a diversified and increasingly service-based economy since joining the European Community in 1986. Over the past two decades, successive governments have privatized many state-controlled firms and liberalized key areas of the economy, including the financial and telecommunications sectors. The country qualified for the European Monetary Union (EMU) in 1998 and began circulating the euro on 1 January 2002 along with 11 other EU member economies. Economic growth had been above the EU average for much of the 1990s, but fell back in 2001-08. GDP per capita stands at roughly two-thirds of the EU-27 average. A poor educational system, in particular, has been an obstacle to greater productivity and growth. Portugal has been increasingly overshadowed by lower-cost producers in Central Europe and Asia as a target for foreign direct investment. The budget deficit surged to an all-time high of 6% of GDP in 2005, but the government reduced the deficit to 2.6% in 2007 - a year ahead of Portugal's targeted schedule. Nonetheless, the government faces tough choices in its attempts to boost the economy, which declined 0.1% in 2008, while keeping the budget deficit within the euro-zone 3%-of-GDP ceiling.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$237.3 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 48 $237.3 billion (2007 est.)
$232.9 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$244.6 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
0% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 199 1.9% (2007 est.)
1.4% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$22,200 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 54 $22,300 (2007 est.)
$22,000 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 2.8%
industry: 25%
services: 72.2% (2008 est.)
Labor force:
5.625 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 68
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 10%
industry: 30%
services: 60% (2007 est.)
Unemployment rate:
7.6% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 102 8% (2007 est.)
Population below poverty line:
18% (2006)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.1%
highest 10%: 28.4% (1995 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
38.5 (2007) country comparison to the world: 72 35.6 (1995)
Investment (gross fixed):
21.7% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 89
Budget:
revenues: $105.5 billion
expenditures: $111.9 billion (2008 est.)
Public debt:
66.4% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 19 61.5% of GDP (2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.6% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 28 2.4% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
3% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 104 5% (31 December 2007)
note: this is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro area
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
8.35% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 108 7.92% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
note: see entry for the European Union for money supply in the euro area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 16 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money and quasi money circulating within their own borders
Stock of quasi money:
Stock of domestic credit:
$491 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 20 $412.7 billion (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 44 $132.3 billion (31 December 2007)
$104.2 billion (31 December 2006)
Agriculture - products:
grain, potatoes, tomatoes, olives, grapes; sheep, cattle, goats, swine, poultry, dairy products; fish
Industries:
textiles, clothing, footwear, wood and cork, paper, chemicals, auto-parts manufacturing, base metals, diary products, wine and other foods, porcelain and ceramics, glassware, technology, telecommunications; ship construction and refurbishment; tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
-2.2% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 156
Electricity - production:
44.47 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 51
Electricity - consumption:
48.78 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 46
Electricity - exports:
1.313 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
10.74 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
7,861 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 89
Oil - consumption:
291,700 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 42
Oil - exports:
53,260 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 77
Oil - imports:
351,100 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 30
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl country comparison to the world: 143
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 141
Natural gas - consumption:
4.754 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 59
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 132
Natural gas - imports:
4.763 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 33
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 145
Current account balance:
-$29.6 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 181 -$21.18 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
$56.42 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 54 $51.81 billion (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
agricultural products, food products, oil products, chemical products, plastics and rubber, skins and leather, wood and cork, wood pulp and paper, textile materials, clothing, footwear, minerals and mineral products, base metals, machinery and tools, vehicles and other transport material, and optical and precision instruments
Exports - partners:
Spain 25.7%, Germany 12.7%, France 11.1%, Angola 5.9%, UK 5.3% (2008)
Imports:
$87.83 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 37 $75.98 billion (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
agricultural products, food products, oil products, chemical products, plastics and rubber, skins and leather, wood and cork, wood pulp and paper, textile materials, clothing, footwear, minerals and mineral products, base metals, machinery and tools, vehicles and other transport material, and optical and precision instruments, computer accessories and parts, semi-conductors and related devices, household goods, passenger cars new and used, and wine products
Imports - partners:
Spain 28.9%, Germany 11.6%, France 8%, Italy 4.9%, Netherlands 4.4% (2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$11.95 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 62 $11.55 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$484.7 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 20 $483.9 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$117.8 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 30 $114.2 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$69.24 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 28 $69.24 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Exchange rates:
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.6827 (2008 est.), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004)
Communications ::Portugal
Telephones - main lines in use:
4.121 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 37
Telephones - mobile cellular:
14.91 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 44
Telephone system:
general assessment: Portugal's telephone system has a state-of-the-art network with broadband, high-speed capabilities
domestic: integrated network of coaxial cables, open-wire, microwave radio relay, and domestic satellite earth stations
international: country code - 351; a combination of submarine cables provide connectivity to Europe, North and East Africa, South Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and the US; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), NA Eutelsat; tropospheric scatter to Azores (2008)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2, FM 63, shortwave 1 (2008)
Television broadcast stations:
42 (2008)
Internet country code:
.pt
Internet hosts:
1.967 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 33
Internet users:
4.476 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 45
Transportation ::Portugal
Airports:
65 (2009) country comparison to the world: 76
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 43
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 13
under 914 m: 11 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 22
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 21 (2009)
Pipelines:
gas 1,098 km; oil 11 km; refined products 188 km (2008)
Railways:
total: 2,786 km country comparison to the world: 58 broad gauge: 2,603 km 1.668-m gauge (1,351 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 183 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 82,900 km country comparison to the world: 56 paved: 71,294 km (includes 2,300 km of expressways)
unpaved: 11,606 km (2005)
Waterways:
210 km (on Douro River from Porto) (2008) country comparison to the world: 96
Merchant marine:
total: 117 country comparison to the world: 48 by type: bulk carrier 10, cargo 36, carrier 1, chemical tanker 15, container 6, liquefied gas 9, passenger 10, passenger/cargo 9, petroleum tanker 4, roll on/roll off 1, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 15
foreign-owned: 84 (Bahamas 1, Belgium 8, Denmark 3, Germany 20, Greece 4, Hong Kong 2, Italy 12, Japan 15, Mexico 1, Netherlands 1, Spain 11, Sweden 3, Switzerland 2, US 1)
registered in other countries: 15 (Cyprus 1, Hong Kong 1, Italy 1, Malta 3, Panama 9) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Leixoes, Lisbon, Setubal, Sines
Military ::Portugal
Military branches:
Portuguese Army (Exercito Portugues), Portuguese Navy (MarinhaPortuguesa; includes Marine Corps), Portuguese Air Force (ForcaAerea Portuguesa, FAP) (2009)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary military service; compulsory military service ended in 2004; women serve in the armed forces, on naval ships since 1993, but are prohibited from serving in some combatant specialties; reserve obligation to age 35 (2007)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,573,913
females age 16-49: 2,498,262 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,103,558
females age 16-49: 2,049,032 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 64,047
female: 57,630 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
2.3% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 72
Transnational Issues ::Portugal
Disputes - international:
Portugal does not recognize Spanish sovereignty over the territory of Olivenza based on a difference of interpretation of the 1815 Congress of Vienna and the 1801 Treaty of Badajoz
Illicit drugs:
seizing record amounts of Latin American cocaine destined for Europe; a European gateway for Southwest Asian heroin; transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to Europe; consumer of Southwest Asian heroin
page last updated on November 11, 2009
======================================================================
@Puerto Rico (Central America and Caribbean)
Introduction ::Puerto Rico
Background:
Populated for centuries by aboriginal peoples, the island was claimed by the Spanish Crown in 1493 following COLUMBUS' second voyage to the Americas. In 1898, after 400 years of colonial rule that saw the indigenous population nearly exterminated and African slave labor introduced, Puerto Rico was ceded to the US as a result of the Spanish-American War. Puerto Ricans were granted US citizenship in 1917. Popularly-elected governors have served since 1948. In 1952, a constitution was enacted providing for internal self government. In plebiscites held in 1967, 1993, and 1998, voters chose not to alter the existing political status.
Geography ::Puerto Rico
Location:
Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North AtlanticOcean, east of the Dominican Republic
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 13,790 sq km country comparison to the world: 162 land: 8,870 sq km
water: 4,921 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly less than three times the size of Rhode Island
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
501 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical marine, mild; little seasonal temperature variation
Terrain:
mostly mountains with coastal plain belt in north; mountains precipitous to sea on west coast; sandy beaches along most coastal areas
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Cerro de Punta 1,339 m
Natural resources:
some copper and nickel; potential for onshore and offshore oil
Land use:
arable land: 3.69%
permanent crops: 5.59%
other: 90.72% (2005)
Irrigated land:
400 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:
periodic droughts; hurricanes
Environment - current issues:
erosion; occasional drought causing water shortages
Geography - note:
important location along the Mona Passage - a key shipping lane to the Panama Canal; San Juan is one of the biggest and best natural harbors in the Caribbean; many small rivers and high central mountains ensure land is well watered; south coast relatively dry; fertile coastal plain belt in north
People ::Puerto Rico
Population:
3,971,020 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 128
Age structure:
0-14 years: 19.9% (male 404,635/female 386,733)
15-64 years: 66% (male 1,260,114/female 1,361,193)
65 years and over: 14.1% (male 240,318/female 318,027) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 36.2 years
male: 34.5 years
female: 37.9 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.34% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 171
Birth rate:
12.12 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 167
Death rate:
7.75 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 115
Net migration rate:
-0.96 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 122
Urbanization:
urban population: 98% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 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: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 8.42 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 162 male: 9.69 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 7.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.53 years country comparison to the world: 42 male: 74.85 years
female: 82.39 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.71 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 171
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
7,397 (1997) country comparison to the world: 115
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Nationality:
noun: Puerto Rican(s) (US citizens)
adjective: Puerto Rican
Ethnic groups:
white (mostly Spanish origin) 76.2%, black 6.9%, Asian 0.3%, Amerindian 0.2%, mixed 4.4%, other 12% (2007)
Religions:
Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant and other 15%
Languages:
Spanish, English
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94.1%
male: 93.9%
female: 94.4% (2002 est.)
Education expenditures:
Government ::Puerto Rico
Country name:
conventional long form: Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
conventional short form: Puerto Rico
Dependency status:
unincorporated, organized territory of the US with commonwealth status; policy relations between Puerto Rico and the US conducted under the jurisdiction of the Office of the President
Government type:
commonwealth
Capital:
name: San Juan
geographic coordinates: 18 28 N, 66 07 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
none (territory of the US with commonwealth status); there are nofirst-order administrative divisions as defined by the USGovernment, but there are 78 municipalities (municipios, singular -municipio) at the second order; Adjuntas, Aguada, Aguadilla, AguasBuenas, Aibonito, Anasco, Arecibo, Arroyo, Barceloneta,Barranquitas, Bayamon, Cabo Rojo, Caguas, Camuy, Canovanas,Carolina, Catano, Cayey, Ceiba, Ciales, Cidra, Coamo, Comerio,Corozal, Culebra, Dorado, Fajardo, Florida, Guanica, Guayama,Guayanilla, Guaynabo, Gurabo, Hatillo, Hormigueros, Humacao,Isabela, Jayuya, Juana Diaz, Juncos, Lajas, Lares, Las Marias, LasPiedras, Loiza, Luquillo, Manati, Maricao, Maunabo, Mayaguez, Moca,Morovis, Naguabo, Naranjito, Orocovis, Patillas, Penuelas, Ponce,Quebradillas, Rincon, Rio Grande, Sabana Grande, Salinas, SanGerman, San Juan, San Lorenzo, San Sebastian, Santa Isabel, ToaAlta, Toa Baja, Trujillo Alto, Utuado, Vega Alta, Vega Baja,Vieques, Villalba, Yabucoa, Yauco
Independence:
none (territory of the US with commonwealth status)
National holiday:
US Independence Day, 4 July (1776); Puerto Rico Constitution Day, 25July (1952)
Constitution:
ratified 3 March 1952; approved by US Congress 3 July 1952; effective 25 July 1952
Legal system:
based on Spanish civil code and within the US Federal system of justice
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal; island residents are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Barack H. OBAMA (since 20 January 2009); Vice President Joseph R. BIDEN (since 20 January 2009)
head of government: Governor Luis FORTUNO (since 2 January 2009)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor with the consent of the legislature
elections: under the US Constitution, residents of unincorporated territories, such as Puerto Rico, do not vote in elections for US president and vice president; however, they may vote in Democratic and Republican party presidential primary elections; governor elected by popular vote for a four-year term (no term limits); election last held 4 November 2008 (next to be held in November 2012)
election results: Luis FORTUNO elected governor with 52.8% of the vote
Legislative branch:
bicameral Legislative Assembly consists of the Senate (at least 27 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and the House of Representatives (51 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 4 November 2008 (next to be held November 2012); House of Representatives - last held 4 November 2008 (next to be held in November 2012)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - PNP 81.5%, PPD 18.5%; seats by party - PNP 22, PPD 5; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - PNP 72.5%, PPD 27.5%; seats by party - PNP 37, PPD 14
note: Puerto Rico elects, by popular vote, a resident commissioner to serve a four-year term as a nonvoting representative in the US House of Representatives; aside from not voting on the House floor, he enjoys all the rights of a member of Congress; elections last held 4 November 2008 (next to be held in November 2012); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PNP 1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Appellate Court; Court of First Instance composed of two sections: a Superior Court and a Municipal Court (justices for all these courts appointed by the governor with the consent of the Senate)
Political parties and leaders:
National Democratic Party [Roberto PRATS]; National Republican Partyof Puerto Rico [Dr. Tiody FERRE]; New Progressive Party or PNP[Pedro ROSSELLO] (pro-US statehood); Popular Democratic Party or PPD[Anibal ACEVEDO-VILA] (pro-commonwealth); Puerto Rican IndependenceParty or PIP [Ruben BERRIOS Martinez] (pro-independence)
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Boricua Popular Army or EPB (a revolutionary group also known as Los Macheteros); note - the following radical groups are considered dormant by Federal law enforcement: Armed Forces for National Liberation or FALN, Armed Forces of Popular Resistance, Volunteers of the Puerto Rican Revolution
International organization participation:
Caricom (observer), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, ITUC, UNWTO (associate), UPU, WCL, WFTU
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (territory of the US with commonwealth status)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (territory of the US with commonwealth status)
Flag description:
five equal horizontal bands of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side bears a large, white, five-pointed star in the center; design initially influenced by the US flag, but similar to the Cuban flag, with the colors of the bands and triangle reversed
Economy ::Puerto Rico
Economy - overview:
Puerto Rico has one of the most dynamic economies in the Caribbean region. A diverse industrial sector has far surpassed agriculture as the primary locus of economic activity and income. Encouraged by duty-free access to the US and by tax incentives, US firms have invested heavily in Puerto Rico since the 1950s. US minimum wage laws apply. Sugar production has lost out to dairy production and other livestock products as the main source of income in the agricultural sector. Tourism has traditionally been an important source of income with estimated arrivals of nearly 5 million tourists in 2004. Growth fell off in 2001-03, largely due to the slowdown in the US economy, recovered in 2004-05, but declined again in 2006-07.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$70.23 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 80 $72.03 billion (2007 est.)
$73.35 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$88 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-2.5% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 212 -1.8% (2007 est.)
0.5% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$17,800 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 70 $18,300 (2007 est.)
$18,700 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1%
industry: 45%
services: 54% (2005 est.)
Labor force:
1.479 million (2007) country comparison to the world: 130
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 2.1%
industry: 19%
services: 79% (2005)
Unemployment rate:
12% (2002) country comparison to the world: 137
Population below poverty line:
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $6.7 billion
expenditures: $9.6 billion (FY99/00)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
6.5% (2003 est.) country comparison to the world: 111
Market value of publicly traded shares:
Agriculture - products:
sugarcane, coffee, pineapples, plantains, bananas; livestock products, chickens
Industries:
pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, food products, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
Electricity - production:
23.72 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 67
Electricity - consumption:
22.06 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 65
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
1,354 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 103
Oil - consumption:
185,300 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 59
Oil - exports:
16,520 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 93
Oil - imports:
225,000 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 44
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 141
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 139
Natural gas - consumption:
806.6 million cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 90
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 126
Natural gas - imports:
806.6 million cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 56
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 143
Exports:
$46.9 billion (2001) country comparison to the world: 58
Exports - commodities:
chemicals, electronics, apparel, canned tuna, rum, beverage concentrates, medical equipment
Imports:
$29.1 billion c.i.f.
Imports - commodities:
chemicals, machinery and equipment, clothing, food, fish, petroleum products
Debt - external:
Exchange rates:
the US dollar is used
Communications ::Puerto Rico
Telephones - main lines in use:
1.038 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 78
Telephones - mobile cellular:
3.354 million (2005) country comparison to the world: 102
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern system integrated with that of the US by high-capacity submarine cable and Intelsat with high-speed data capability
domestic: digital telephone system; cellular telephone service
international: country code - 1-787, 939; submarine cables provide connectivity to the US, Caribbean, Central and South America; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 74, FM 53, shortwave 0 (2008)
Television broadcast stations:
34 (2008)
Internet country code:
.pr
Internet hosts:
700 (2009) country comparison to the world: 167
Internet users:
1 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 89
Transportation ::Puerto Rico
Airports:
29 (2009) country comparison to the world: 117
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 17
over 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 5 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 12
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 10 (2009)
Roadways:
total: 26,186 km country comparison to the world: 102 paved: 24,877 km (includes 427 km of expressways)
unpaved: 1,309 km (2007)
Merchant marine:
total: 3 country comparison to the world: 140 by type: roll on/roll off 3
foreign-owned: 3 (US 3)
registered in other countries: 1 (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Guayanilla, Mayaguez, San Juan
Military ::Puerto Rico
Military branches:
no regular indigenous military forces; paramilitary National Guard, Police Force
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 699,784
females age 16-49: 790,482 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 30,422
female: 29,396 (2009 est.)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues ::Puerto Rico
Disputes - international:
increasing numbers of illegal migrants from the Dominican Republic cross the Mona Passage to Puerto Rico each year looking for work
page last updated on November 11, 2009
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@Qatar (Middle East)
Introduction ::Qatar
Background:
Ruled by the al-Thani family since the mid-1800s, Qatar transformed itself from a poor British protectorate noted mainly for pearling into an independent state with significant oil and natural gas revenues. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Qatari economy was crippled by a continuous siphoning off of petroleum revenues by the Amir, who had ruled the country since 1972. His son, the current Amir HAMAD bin Khalifa al-Thani, overthrew him in a bloodless coup in 1995. In 2001, Qatar resolved its longstanding border disputes with both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. As of 2007, oil and natural gas revenues had enabled Qatar to attain the second-highest per capita income in the world.
Geography ::Qatar
Location:
Middle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Middle East
Area:
total: 11,586 sq km country comparison to the world: 165 land: 11,586 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Connecticut
Land boundaries:
total: 60 km
border countries: Saudi Arabia 60 km
Coastline:
563 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: as determined by bilateral agreements or the median line
Climate:
arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers
Terrain:
mostly flat and barren desert covered with loose sand and gravel
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: Qurayn Abu al Bawl 103 m
Natural resources:
petroleum, natural gas, fish
Land use:
arable land: 1.64%
permanent crops: 0.27%
other: 98.09% (2005)
Irrigated land:
130 sq km (2002)
Total renewable water resources:
0.1 cu km (1997)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.29 cu km/yr (24%/3%/72%)
per capita: 358 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
haze, dust storms, sandstorms common
Environment - current issues:
limited natural fresh water resources are increasing dependence on large-scale desalination facilities
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
strategic location in central Persian Gulf near major petroleum deposits
People ::Qatar
Population:
833,285 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 158
Age structure:
0-14 years: 21.8% (male 93,805/female 88,040)
15-64 years: 76.8% (male 454,714/female 185,004)
65 years and over: 1.4% (male 6,792/female 4,930) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 30.8 years
male: 32.8 years
female: 25.4 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.957% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 130
Birth rate:
15.61 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 136
Death rate:
2.46 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 219
Net migration rate:
-3.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 155
Urbanization:
urban population: 96% of total population (2008)