3.1% (2007) country comparison to the world: 78
Exports:
$4.628 billion (2007) country comparison to the world: 114 $1.291 billion (2004)
Exports - commodities:
building stone, lime, wood, chestnuts, wheat, wine, baked goods, hides, ceramics
Imports:
$3.744 billion (2007) country comparison to the world: 130 $2.035 billion (2004)
Imports - commodities:
wide variety of consumer manufactures, food
Debt - external:
Exchange rates:
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.6734 (2008 est.), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004)
Communications ::San Marino
Telephones - main lines in use:
21,300 (2008) country comparison to the world: 193
Telephones - mobile cellular:
17,700 (2008) country comparison to the world: 208
Telephone system:
general assessment: adequate connections
domestic: automatic telephone system completely integrated into Italian system; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity 130 telephones per 100 persons
international: country code - 378; connected to Italian international network (2008)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 0, FM 2, shortwave 0 (2008)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (San Marino residents also receive broadcasts from Italy) (1997)
Internet country code:
.sm
Internet hosts:
6,734 (2009) country comparison to the world: 132
Internet users:
17,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 193
Transportation ::San Marino
Roadways:
total: 292 km country comparison to the world: 202 paved: 292 km (2006)
Military ::San Marino
Military branches:
no regular military forces; Voluntary Military Force (Corpi Militari Voluntar) performs ceremonial duties and limited police support functions (2008)
Military service age and obligation:
16-55 for voluntary service in Voluntary Military Force (2006)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 6,613 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 5,343
females age 16-49: 6,048 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 161
female: 160 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of Italy
Transnational Issues ::San Marino
Disputes - international:
none
page last updated on October 28, 2009
======================================================================
@Sao Tome and Principe (Africa)
Introduction ::Sao Tome and Principe
Background:
Discovered and claimed by Portugal in the late 15th century, the islands' sugar-based economy gave way to coffee and cocoa in the 19th century - all grown with plantation slave labor, a form of which lingered into the 20th century. While independence was achieved in 1975, democratic reforms were not instituted until the late 1980s. The country held its first free elections in 1991, but frequent internal wrangling between the various political party's precipitated repeated changes in leadership and two failed coup attempts in 1995 and 2003. The recent discovery of oil in the Gulf of Guinea promises to attract increased attention to the small island nation.
Geography ::Sao Tome and Principe
Location:
Western Africa, islands in the Gulf of Guinea, straddling theEquator, west of Gabon
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 964 sq km country comparison to the world: 184 land: 964 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
more than five times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
209 km
Maritime claims:
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical; hot, humid; one rainy season (October to May)
Terrain:
volcanic, mountainous
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pico de Sao Tome 2,024 m
Natural resources:
fish, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 8.33%
permanent crops: 48.96%
other: 42.71% (2005)
Irrigated land:
100 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; soil erosion and exhaustion
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, EnvironmentalModification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, ShipPollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
the smallest country in Africa; the two main islands form part of a chain of extinct volcanoes and both are mountainous
People ::Sao Tome and Principe
Population:
212,679 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 186
Age structure:
0-14 years: 46.9% (male 50,475/female 49,188)
15-64 years: 49.7% (male 51,325/female 54,289)
65 years and over: 3.5% (male 3,335/female 4,067) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 16.4 years
male: 15.9 years
female: 17 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
3.093% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 12
Birth rate:
38.54 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 22
Death rate:
5.8 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 169
Net migration rate:
-1.81 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 135
Urbanization:
urban population: 61% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 37.12 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 68 male: 38.84 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 35.35 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 68.32 years country comparison to the world: 149 male: 66.65 years
female: 70.04 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5.33 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 20
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria
animal contact disease: rabies (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Sao Tomean(s)
adjective: Sao Tomean
Ethnic groups:
mestico, angolares (descendants of Angolan slaves), forros (descendants of freed slaves), servicais (contract laborers from Angola, Mozambique, and Cape Verde), tongas (children of servicais born on the islands), Europeans (primarily Portuguese)
Religions:
Catholic 70.3%, Evangelical 3.4%, New Apostolic 2%, Adventist 1.8%, other 3.1%, none 19.4% (2001 census)
Languages:
Portuguese (official)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 84.9%
male: 92.2%
female: 77.9% (2001 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 10 years
male: 10 years
female: 10 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
Government ::Sao Tome and Principe
Country name:
conventional long form: Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe
conventional short form: Sao Tome and Principe
local long form: Republica Democratica de Sao Tome e Principe
local short form: Sao Tome e Principe
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Sao Tome
geographic coordinates: 0 12 N, 6 39 E
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
2 provinces; Principe, Sao Tome
note: Principe has had self government since 29 April 1995
Independence:
12 July 1975 (from Portugal)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 12 July (1975)
Constitution:
approved March 1990, effective 10 September 1990
Legal system:
based on Portuguese legal system and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Fradique Bandiera Melo DE MENEZES (since 3 September 2001)
head of government: Prime Minister Joachim Rafael BRANCO (since 22 June 2008)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the proposal of the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 30 July 2006 (next to be held July 2011); prime minister chosen by the National Assembly and approved by the president
election results: Fradique DE MENEZES elected president; percent of vote - Fradique DE MENEZES 60%, Patrice TROVOADA 38.5%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (55 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 26 March 2006 (next to be held in March 2010)
election results: percent of vote by party - MDFM-PCD 37.2%, MLSTP 28.9%, ADI 20.0%, NR 4.7%, others 9.2%; seats by party - MDFM-PCD 23, MLSTP 19, ADI 12, NR 1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the National Assembly)
Political parties and leaders:
Force for Change Democratic Movement or MDFM [Tome Soares da VERACRUZ]; Independent Democratic Action or ADI [[Patrice TROVOADA];Movement for the Liberation of Sao Tome and Principe-SocialDemocratic Party or MLSTP-PSD [Rafael BRANCO]; New Way Movement orNR; Party for Democratic Convergence or PCD [Delfim NEVES];Ue-Kedadji coalition; other small parties
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Association of Sao Tome and Principe NGOs or FONG
other: the media
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, CPLP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM,IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer),IPU, ITU, ITUC, NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UnionLatina, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant)
chancery: 400 Park Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10022
telephone: [1] (212) 317-0580
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Sao Tome and Principe; the Ambassador to Gabon is accredited to Sao Tome and Principe on a nonresident basis and makes periodic visits to the islands
Flag description:
three horizontal bands of green (top), yellow (double width), and green with two black five-pointed stars placed side by side in the center of the yellow band and a red isosceles triangle based on the hoist side; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
Economy ::Sao Tome and Principe
Economy - overview:
This small, poor island economy has become increasingly dependent on cocoa since independence in 1975. Cocoa production has substantially declined in recent years because of drought and mismanagement. Sao Tome has to import all fuels, most manufactured goods, consumer goods, and a substantial amount of food. Over the years, it has had difficulty servicing its external debt and has relied heavily on concessional aid and debt rescheduling. Sao Tome benefited from $200 million in debt relief in December 2000 under the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) program, which helped bring down the country's $300 million debt burden. In August 2005, Sao Tome signed on to a new 3-year IMF Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF) program worth $4.3 million. Considerable potential exists for development of a tourist industry, and the government has taken steps to expand facilities in recent years. The government also has attempted to reduce price controls and subsidies. Potential exists for the development of petroleum resources in Sao Tome's territorial waters in the oil-rich Gulf of Guinea, which are being jointly developed in a 60-40 split with Nigeria, but any actual production is at least several years off. The first production licenses were sold in 2004, though a dispute over licensing with Nigeria delayed Sao Tome's receipt of more than $20 million in signing bonuses for almost a year. Real GDP growth averaged about 6% in 2006-08, as a result of increases in public expenditures and oil-related capital investment.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$277.1 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 213 $262.7 million (2007 est.)
$247.8 million (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$175 million (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5.5% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 74 6% (2007 est.)
6.7% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,300 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 205 $1,300 (2007 est.)
$1,300 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 14.6%
industry: 14.6%
services: 70.8% (2008 est.)
Labor force:
52,490 (2007) country comparison to the world: 182
Labor force - by occupation:
note: population mainly engaged in subsistence agriculture and fishing; shortages of skilled workers
Unemployment rate:
Population below poverty line:
54% (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Investment (gross fixed):
38.8% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 7
Budget:
revenues: $47.65 million
expenditures: $51.48 million (2008 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
26% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 215 18% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
28% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 3 28% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
32.4% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 5 32.4% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$27.84 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 118 $19.99 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$36.95 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 125 $33.5 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$20.42 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 127 $31.84 million (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
Agriculture - products:
cocoa, coconuts, palm kernels, copra, cinnamon, pepper, coffee, bananas, papayas, beans; poultry; fish
Industries:
light construction, textiles, soap, beer, fish processing, timber
Industrial production growth rate:
9.5% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 14
Electricity - production:
19 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 206
Electricity - consumption:
17.67 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 207
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 128
Oil - consumption:
1,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 190
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 163
Oil - imports:
725.5 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 193
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 124
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 122
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 129
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 102
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 125
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 128
Current account balance:
-$67 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 75 -$44 million (2007 est.)
Exports:
$8 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 211 $7 million (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
cocoa 80%, copra, coffee, palm oil
Exports - partners:
Japan 77.5%, Belgium 7.7%, Netherlands 6.4% (2008)
Imports:
$87 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 208 $65 million (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and electrical equipment, food products, petroleum products
Imports - partners:
Portugal 55.8%, Belgium 9.6%, Japan 9.3% (2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$43 million (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 152 $39 million (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$318 million (2002) country comparison to the world: 173
Exchange rates:
dobras (STD) per US dollar - 14,900 (2008 est.), 13,700 (2007), 12,050 (2006), 9,900.4 (2005), 9,902.3 (2004)
Communications ::Sao Tome and Principe
Telephones - main lines in use:
7,700 (2008) country comparison to the world: 208
Telephones - mobile cellular:
49,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 194
Telephone system:
general assessment: local telephone network of adequate quality with most lines connected to digital switches
domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity approaching 30 telephones per 100 persons
international: country code - 239; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2008)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 1 (2001)
Television broadcast stations:
2 (2001)
Internet country code:
.st
Internet hosts:
1,345 (2009) country comparison to the world: 155
Internet users:
24,800 (2008) country comparison to the world: 183
Transportation ::Sao Tome and Principe
Airports:
2 (2009) country comparison to the world: 205
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2009)
Roadways:
total: 320 km country comparison to the world: 201 paved: 218 km
unpaved: 102 km (2000)
Merchant marine:
total: 6 country comparison to the world: 130 by type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 5
foreign-owned: 1 (Greece 1) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Sao Tome
Military ::Sao Tome and Principe
Military branches:
Armed Forces of Sao Tome and Principe (FASTP): Army, Coast Guard ofSao Tome e Principe (Guarda Costeira de Sao Tome e Principe, GCSTP),Presidential Guard (2007)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age (est.) (2004)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 42,340
females age 16-49: 43,781 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 35,216
females age 16-49: 38,329 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 2,534
female: 2,485 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.8% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 148
Military - note:
Sao Tome and Principe's army is a tiny force with almost no resources at its disposal and would be wholly ineffective operating unilaterally; infantry equipment is considered simple to operate and maintain but may require refurbishment or replacement after 25 years in tropical climates; poor pay, working conditions, and alleged nepotism in the promotion of officers have been problems in the past, as reflected in the 1995 and 2003 coups; these issues are being addressed with foreign assistance aimed at improving the army and its focus on realistic security concerns; command is exercised from the president, through the Minister of Defense, to the Chief of the Armed Forces staff (2005)
Transnational Issues ::Sao Tome and Principe
Disputes - international:
none
page last updated on November 11, 2009
======================================================================
@Saudi Arabia (Middle East)
Introduction ::Saudi Arabia
Background:
Saudi Arabia is the birthplace of Islam and home to Islam's two holiest shrines in Mecca and Medina. The king's official title is the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. The modern Saudi state was founded in 1932 by ABD AL-AZIZ bin Abd al-Rahman AL SAUD (Ibn Saud) after a 30-year campaign to unify most of the Arabian Peninsula. A male descendent of Ibn Saud, his son ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz, rules the country today as required by the country's 1992 Basic Law. Following Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in 1990, Saudi Arabia accepted the Kuwaiti royal family and 400,000 refugees while allowing Western and Arab troops to deploy on its soil for the liberation of Kuwait the following year. The continuing presence of foreign troops on Saudi soil after the liberation of Kuwait became a source of tension between the royal family and the public until all operational US troops left the country in 2003. Major terrorist attacks in May and November 2003 spurred a strong on-going campaign against domestic terrorism and extremism. King ABDALLAH has continued the cautious reform program begun when he was crown prince. To promote increased political participation, the government held elections nationwide from February through April 2005 for half the members of 179 municipal councils. In December 2005, King ABDALLAH completed the process by appointing the remaining members of the advisory municipal councils. The king instituted an Inter-Faith Dialogue initiative in 2008 to encourage religious tolerance on a global level; in February 2009, he reshuffled the cabinet, which led to more moderates holding ministerial and judicial positions, and appointed the first female to the cabinet. The country remains a leading producer of oil and natural gas and holds more than 20% of the world's proven oil reserves. The government continues to pursue economic reform and diversification, particularly since Saudi Arabia's accession to the WTO in December 2005, and promotes foreign investment in the kingdom. A burgeoning population, aquifer depletion, and an economy largely dependent on petroleum output and prices are all ongoing governmental concerns.
Geography ::Saudi Arabia
Location:
Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea, north ofYemen
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Middle East
Area:
total: 2,149,690 sq km country comparison to the world: 14 land: 2,149,690 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly more than one-fifth the size of the US
Land boundaries:
total: 4,431 km
border countries: Iraq 814 km, Jordan 744 km, Kuwait 222 km, Oman 676 km, Qatar 60 km, UAE 457 km, Yemen 1,458 km
Coastline:
2,640 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 18 nm
continental shelf: not specified
Climate:
harsh, dry desert with great temperature extremes
Terrain:
mostly uninhabited, sandy desert
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: Jabal Sawda' 3,133 m
Natural resources:
petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, copper
Land use:
arable land: 1.67%
permanent crops: 0.09%
other: 98.24% (2005)
Irrigated land:
16,200 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
2.4 cu km (1997)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 17.32 cu km/yr (10%/1%/89%)
per capita: 705 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
frequent sand and dust storms
Environment - current issues:
desertification; depletion of underground water resources; the lack of perennial rivers or permanent water bodies has prompted the development of extensive seawater desalination facilities; coastal pollution from oil spills
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
extensive coastlines on Persian Gulf and Red Sea provide great leverage on shipping (especially crude oil) through Persian Gulf and Suez Canal
People ::Saudi Arabia
Population:
28,686,633 country comparison to the world: 41 note: includes 5,576,076 non-nationals (July 2009 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 38% (male 5,557,453/female 5,340,614)
15-64 years: 59.5% (male 9,608,032/female 7,473,543)
65 years and over: 2.5% (male 363,241/female 343,750) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 21.6 years
male: 22.9 years
female: 19.9 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.848% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 69
Birth rate:
28.55 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 52
Death rate:
2.47 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 218
Net migration rate:
-7.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 173
Urbanization:
urban population: 82% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2.5% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.29 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.06 male(s)/female
total population: 1.18 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 11.57 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 148 male: 13.15 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 9.91 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 76.3 years country comparison to the world: 69 male: 74.23 years
female: 78.48 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.83 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 49
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.01% (2001 est.) country comparison to the world: 169
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Nationality:
noun: Saudi(s)
adjective: Saudi or Saudi Arabian
Ethnic groups:
Arab 90%, Afro-Asian 10%
Religions:
Muslim 100%
Languages:
Arabic
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 78.8%
male: 84.7%
female: 70.8% (2003 est.)
Education expenditures:
6.8% of GDP (2004) country comparison to the world: 28
Government ::Saudi Arabia
Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
conventional short form: Saudi Arabia
local long form: Al Mamlakah al Arabiyah as Suudiyah
local short form: Al Arabiyah as Suudiyah
Government type:
monarchy
Capital:
name: Riyadh
geographic coordinates: 24 38 N, 46 43 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
13 provinces (mintaqat, singular - mintaqah); Al Bahah, Al Hudud ashShamaliyah (Northern Border), Al Jawf, Al Madinah, Al Qasim, ArRiyad (Riyadh), Ash Sharqiyah (Eastern), 'Asir, Ha'il, Jizan,Makkah, Najran, Tabuk
Independence:
23 September 1932 (unification of the kingdom)
National holiday:
Unification of the Kingdom, 23 September (1932)
Constitution:
governed according to Islamic law; the Basic Law that articulates the government's rights and responsibilities was promulgated by royal decree in 1992
Legal system:
based on Sharia law, several secular codes have been introduced; commercial disputes handled by special committees; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
21 years of age; male
Executive branch:
chief of state: King and Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 1 August 2005); Heir Apparent Crown Prince SULTAN bin Abd al- Aziz Al Saud (half brother of the monarch); note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: King and Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 1 August 2005); Deputy Prime Minister SULTAN bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud; Second Deputy Prime Minister NAYIF bin Abd Al-Aziz Al Saud
cabinet: Council of Ministers is appointed by the monarch every four years and includes many royal family members
elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; note - a new Allegiance Commission created by royal decree in October 2006 established a committee of Saudi princes that will play a role in selecting future Saudi kings, but the new system will not take effect until after Crown Prince Sultan becomes king
Legislative branch:
Consultative Council or Majlis al-Shura (150 members and a chairman appointed by the monarch for four-year terms); note - though the Council of Ministers announced in October 2003 its intent to introduce elections for half of the members of local and provincial assemblies and a third of the members of the national Consultative Council or Majlis al-Shura incrementally over a period of four to five years, to date no such elections have been held or announced
Judicial branch:
Supreme Council of Justice
Political parties and leaders:
none
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Ansar Al Marah (supports women's rights)
other: gas companies; religious groups
International organization participation:
ABEDA, AfDB (nonregional member), AFESD, AMF, BIS, FAO, G-20, G-77,GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM,OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,UNIDO, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Adil al-Ahmad al-JUBAYR
chancery: 601 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037
telephone: [1] (202) 342-3800
consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Ford M. FRAKER
embassy: Collector Road M, Diplomatic Quarter, Riyadh
mailing address: American Embassy, Unit 61307, APO AE 09803-1307; International Mail: P. O. Box 94309, Riyadh 11693
telephone: [966] (1) 488-3800
consulate(s) general: Dhahran, Jiddah (Jeddah)
Flag description:
green, a traditional color in Islamic flags, with the Shahada or Muslim creed in large white Arabic script (translated as "There is no god but God; Muhammad is the Messenger of God") above a white horizontal saber (the tip points to the hoist side); design dates to the early twentieth century and is closely associated with the Al Saud family which established the kingdom in 1932
Economy ::Saudi Arabia
Economy - overview:
Saudi Arabia has an oil-based economy with strong government controls over major economic activities. It possesses more than 20% of the world's proven petroleum reserves, ranks as the largest exporter of petroleum, and plays a leading role in OPEC. The petroleum sector accounts for roughly 80% of budget revenues, 45% of GDP, and 90% of export earnings. About 40% of GDP comes from the private sector. Roughly 6.4 million foreign workers play an important role in the Saudi economy, particularly in the oil and service sectors. High oil prices through mid-2008 have boosted growth, government revenues, and Saudi ownership of foreign assets, while enabling Riyadh to pay down domestic debt. The government is encouraging private sector growth - especially in power generation, telecommunications, natural gas exploration, and petrochemicals - to lessen the kingdom's dependence on oil exports and to increase employment opportunities for the swelling Saudi population, nearly 40% of which are youths under 15 years old. Unemployment is high, and the large youth population generally lacks the education and technical skills the private sector needs. Riyadh has substantially boosted spending on job training and education, infrastructure development, and government salaries. As part of its effort to attract foreign investment and diversify the economy, Saudi Arabia acceded to the WTO in December 2005 after many years of negotiations. The government has announced plans to establish six "economic cities" in different regions of the country to promote development and diversification. The last five years of high oil prices have given the Kingdom ample financial reserves to manage the impact of the global financial crisis, but tight international credit, falling oil prices, and the global economic slowdown will reduce Saudi economic growth in 2009.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$577.9 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 23 $553.5 billion (2007 est.)
$535.8 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$469.4 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4.4% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 98 3.3% (2007 est.)
3.1% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$20,500 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 60 $20,100 (2007 est.)
$19,800 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 3.1%
industry: 61.9%
services: 35% (2008 est.)
Labor force:
6.74 million country comparison to the world: 63 note: about 80% of the labor force is non-national (2008 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 6.7%
industry: 21.4%
services: 71.9% (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate:
11.8% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 135 13% (2004 est.)
note: data are for Saudi males only (local bank estimates; some estimates range as high as 25%)
Population below poverty line:
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Investment (gross fixed):
19.4% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 119
Budget:
revenues: $293.7 billion
expenditures: $136 billion (2008 est.)
Public debt:
18.9% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 98 75% of GDP (2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
9.9% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 144 4.1% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
2.5% (31 December 2008)
NA% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
NA% (31 December 2008)
Stock of money:
$113.2 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 11 $102.4 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$134.3 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 17 $109.5 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$66.94 billion (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$246.3 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 22 $515.1 billion (31 December 2007)
$326.9 billion (31 December 2006)
Agriculture - products:
wheat, barley, tomatoes, melons, dates, citrus; mutton, chickens, eggs, milk
Industries:
crude oil production, petroleum refining, basic petrochemicals, ammonia, industrial gases, sodium hydroxide (caustic soda), cement, fertilizer, plastics, metals, commercial ship repair, commercial aircraft repair, construction
Industrial production growth rate:
2.4% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 97
Electricity - production:
179.1 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 22
Electricity - consumption:
165.1 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 19
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)