0 bbl country comparison to the world: 120
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 118
Natural gas - consumption:
70 million cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 106
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 95
Natural gas - imports:
70 million cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 67
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 125
Current account balance:
-$1.484 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 132 -$82.7 million (2007 est.)
Exports:
$7.084 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 98 $5.043 billion (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
meat, rice, leather products, wool, fish, dairy products
Exports - partners:
Brazil 18.7%, China 8.5%, Argentina 7.3%, Germany 6.5%, Mexico 4.9%,Netherlands 4.5%, Russia 4.3% (2008)
Imports:
$8.799 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 98 $5.598 billion (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
crude petroleum and petroleum products, machinery, chemicals, road vehicles, paper, plastics
Imports - partners:
Argentina 19.9%, Brazil 16.5%, China 11.2%, US 9.9%, Paraguay 6.6%,Nigeria 4.6% (2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$6.36 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 79 $4.121 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$10.73 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 83 $11.07 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$4.19 billion (2007) country comparison to the world: 90
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$156 million (2007) country comparison to the world: 78
Exchange rates:
Uruguayan pesos (UYU) per US dollar - 20.936 (2008 est.), 23.947 (2007), 24.048 (2006), 24.479 (2005), 28.704 (2004)
Communications ::Uruguay
Telephones - main lines in use:
959,300 (2008) country comparison to the world: 83
Telephones - mobile cellular:
3.508 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 98
Telephone system:
general assessment: fully digitalized
domestic: most modern facilities concentrated in Montevideo; new nationwide microwave radio relay network; overall fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity is 130 telephones per 100 persons
international: country code - 598; the UNISOR submarine cable system provides direct connectivity to Brazil and Argentina; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2002)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 93, FM 191, shortwave 7 (2005)
Television broadcast stations:
62 (2005)
Internet country code:
.uy
Internet hosts:
498,232 (2009) country comparison to the world: 48
Internet users:
1.34 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 79
Transportation ::Uruguay
Airports:
57 (2009) country comparison to the world: 82
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 9
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 48
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 20
under 914 m: 25 (2009)
Pipelines:
gas 226 km; oil 155 km (2008)
Railways:
total: 1,641 km country comparison to the world: 79 standard gauge: 1,641 km 1.435-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 77,732 km country comparison to the world: 63 paved: 7,743 km
unpaved: 69,989 km (2004)
Waterways:
1,600 km (2008) country comparison to the world: 52
Merchant marine:
total: 17 country comparison to the world: 102 by type: cargo 3, chemical tanker 2, passenger/cargo 9, petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 10 (Argentina 3, Greece 1, Spain 6)
registered in other countries: 3 (Liberia 3) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Montevideo
Military ::Uruguay
Military branches:
Uruguayan Armed Forces: Army (Ejercito), National Navy (ArmadaNacional; includes naval air arm, Marine Corps (Cuerpo de FusilerosNavales, FUSNA), Maritime Prefecture in wartime), Air Force (FuerzaAerea Uruguaya, FAU) (2008)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary and compulsory military service; enlistment is voluntary in peacetime, but the government has the authority to conscript in emergencies (2007)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 837,252
females age 16-49: 824,096 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 708,545
females age 16-49: 693,622 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 27,452
female: 26,479 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.6% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 103
Transnational Issues ::Uruguay
Disputes - international:
in Jan 2007, ICJ provisionally ruled Uruguay may begin construction of two paper mills on the Uruguay River, which forms the border with Argentina, while the court examines further whether Argentina has the legal right to stop such construction with potential environmental implications to both countries; uncontested dispute with Brazil over certain islands in the Quarai/Cuareim and Invernada streams and the resulting tripoint with Argentina
Illicit drugs:
small-scale transit country for drugs mainly bound for Europe, often through sea-borne containers; law enforcement corruption; money laundering because of strict banking secrecy laws; weak border control along Brazilian frontier; increasing consumption of cocaine base and synthetic drugs
page last updated on November 11, 2009
======================================================================
@Uzbekistan (Central Asia)
Introduction ::Uzbekistan
Background:
Russia conquered Uzbekistan in the late 19th century. Stiff resistance to the Red Army after World War I was eventually suppressed and a socialist republic set up in 1924. During the Soviet era, intensive production of "white gold" (cotton) and grain led to overuse of agrochemicals and the depletion of water supplies, which have left the land poisoned and the Aral Sea and certain rivers half dry. Independent since 1991, the country seeks to gradually lessen its dependence on agriculture while developing its mineral and petroleum reserves. Current concerns include terrorism by Islamic militants, economic stagnation, and the curtailment of human rights and democratization.
Geography ::Uzbekistan
Location:
Central Asia, north of Afghanistan
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Asia
Area:
total: 447,400 sq km country comparison to the world: 56 land: 425,400 sq km
water: 22,000 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than California
Land boundaries:
total: 6,221 km
border countries: Afghanistan 137 km, Kazakhstan 2,203 km, Kyrgyzstan 1,099 km, Tajikistan 1,161 km, Turkmenistan 1,621 km
Coastline:
0 km (doubly landlocked); note - Uzbekistan includes the southern portion of the Aral Sea with a 420 km shoreline
Maritime claims:
none (doubly landlocked)
Climate:
mostly midlatitude desert, long, hot summers, mild winters; semiarid grassland in east
Terrain:
mostly flat-to-rolling sandy desert with dunes; broad, flat intensely irrigated river valleys along course of Amu Darya, Syr Darya (Sirdaryo), and Zarafshon; Fergana Valley in east surrounded by mountainous Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan; shrinking Aral Sea in west
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Sariqarnish Kuli -12 m
highest point: Adelunga Toghi 4,301 m
Natural resources:
natural gas, petroleum, coal, gold, uranium, silver, copper, lead and zinc, tungsten, molybdenum
Land use:
arable land: 10.51%
permanent crops: 0.76%
other: 88.73% (2005)
Irrigated land:
42,810 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
72.2 cu km (2003)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 58.34 cu km/yr (5%/2%/93%)
per capita: 2,194 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
Environment - current issues:
shrinkage of the Aral Sea is resulting in growing concentrations of chemical pesticides and natural salts; these substances are then blown from the increasingly exposed lake bed and contribute to desertification; water pollution from industrial wastes and the heavy use of fertilizers and pesticides is the cause of many human health disorders; increasing soil salination; soil contamination from buried nuclear processing and agricultural chemicals, including DDT
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
along with Liechtenstein, one of the only two doubly landlocked countries in the world
People ::Uzbekistan
Population:
27,606,007 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 44
Age structure:
0-14 years: 28.1% (male 3,970,386/female 3,787,371)
15-64 years: 67% (male 9,191,439/female 9,309,791)
65 years and over: 4.9% (male 576,191/female 770,829) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 24.7 years
male: 24.2 years
female: 25.2 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.935% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 133
Birth rate:
17.58 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 116
Death rate:
5.29 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 181
Net migration rate:
-2.94 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 148
Urbanization:
urban population: 37% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.6% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 23.43 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 92 male: 27.7 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 18.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.96 years country comparison to the world: 123 male: 68.95 years
female: 75.15 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.95 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 137
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 134
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
16,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 85
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 500 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 86
Nationality:
noun: Uzbekistani
adjective: Uzbekistani
Ethnic groups:
Uzbek 80%, Russian 5.5%, Tajik 5%, Kazakh 3%, Karakalpak 2.5%, Tatar 1.5%, other 2.5% (1996 est.)
Religions:
Muslim 88% (mostly Sunnis), Eastern Orthodox 9%, other 3%
Languages:
Uzbek 74.3%, Russian 14.2%, Tajik 4.4%, other 7.1%
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.3%
male: 99.6%
female: 99% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 11 years
male: 12 years
female: 11 years (2007)
Education expenditures:
9.4% of GDP (1991) country comparison to the world: 7
Government ::Uzbekistan
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Uzbekistan
conventional short form: Uzbekistan
local long form: Ozbekiston Respublikasi
local short form: Ozbekiston
former: Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic
Government type:
republic; authoritarian presidential rule, with little power outside the executive branch
Capital:
name: Tashkent (Toshkent)
geographic coordinates: 41 20 N, 69 18 E
time difference: UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
12 provinces (viloyatlar, singular - viloyat), 1 autonomousrepublic* (respublika), and 1 city** (shahar); Andijon Viloyati,Buxoro Viloyati, Farg'ona Viloyati, Jizzax Viloyati, NamanganViloyati, Navoiy Viloyati, Qashqadaryo Viloyati (Qarshi),Qoraqalpog'iston Respublikasi [Karakalpakstan]* (Nukus), SamarqandViloyati, Sirdaryo Viloyati (Guliston), Surxondaryo Viloyati(Termiz), Toshkent Shahri**, Toshkent Viloyati, Xorazm Viloyati(Urganch)
note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)
Independence:
1 September 1991 (from the Soviet Union)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 1 September (1991)
Constitution:
adopted 8 December 1992
Legal system:
based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Islom KARIMOV (since 24 March 1990, when he was elected president by the then Supreme Soviet)
head of government: Prime Minister Shavkat MIRZIYOYEV (since 11 December 2003); First Deputy Prime Minister Rustam AZIMOV (since 2 January 2008)
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president with approval of the Supreme Assembly
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term (eligible for a second term; previously was a five-year term, extended by constitutional amendment in 2002); election last held 23 December 2007 (next to be held in 2014); prime minister, ministers, and deputy ministers appointed by the president
election results: Islom KARIMOV reelected president; percent of vote - Islom KARIMOV 88.1%, Asliddin RUSTAMOV 3.2%, Dilorom T0SHMUHAMEDOVA 2.9%, Akmal SAIDOV 2.6%
Legislative branch:
bicameral Supreme Assembly or Oliy Majlis consists of an upper house or Senate (100 seats; 84 members are elected by regional governing councils and 16 appointed by the president; to serve five-year terms) and a lower house or Legislative Chamber (120 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 26 December 2004 and 9 January 2005 (next to be held in December 2009)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; Legislative Chamber - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - LDPU 41, NDP 32, Fidokorlar 17, MTP 11, Adolat 9, unaffiliated 10
note: all parties in the Supreme Assembly support President KARIMOV
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges are nominated by the president and confirmed by the Supreme Assembly)
Political parties and leaders:
Adolat (Justice) Social Democratic Party [Dilorom TOSHMUHAMEDOVA];Democratic National Rebirth Party (Milliy Tiklanish) or MTP [HurshidDOSMUHAMMEDOV]; Fidokorlar National Democratic Party(Self-Sacrificers) [Ahtam TURSUNOV]; Liberal Democratic Party ofUzbekistan or LDPU [Adham SHADMANOV; People's Democratic Party orNDP (formerly Communist Party) [Asliddin RUSTAMOV]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Agrarian and Entrepreneurs' Party [Marat ZAHIDOV]; Birlik (Unity)Movement [Abdurahim POLAT, chairman]; Committee for the Protectionof Human Rights [Marat ZAHIDOV]; Erk (Freedom) Democratic Party[Muhammad SOLIH, chairman] (was banned 9 December 1992); EzgulikHuman Rights Society [Vasila INOYATOVA]; Free Farmers' Party or OzodDehqonlar [Nigora HIDOYATOVA]; Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan[Talib YAKUBOV, chairman]; Independent Human Rights Organization ofUzbekistan [Mikhail ARDZINOV, chairman]; Mazlum; Sunshine Coalition[Sanjar UMAROV, chairman]
International organization participation:
ADB, CIS, CSTO, EAEC, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, GCTU, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol,IOC, ISO, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SCO, UN,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO(observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Abdulaziz KAMILOV
chancery: 1746 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 887-5300
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Richard B. NORLAND
embassy: 3 Moyqo'rq'on, 5th Block, Yunusobod District, Tashkent 100093
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [998] (71) 120-5450
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and green separated by red fimbriations with a white crescent moon and 12 white stars in the upper hoist-side quadrant
Economy ::Uzbekistan
Economy - overview:
Uzbekistan is a dry, landlocked country of which 11% consists of intensely cultivated, irrigated river valleys. More than 60% of its population lives in densely populated rural communities. Uzbekistan is now the world's second-largest cotton exporter and fifth largest producer; it relies heavily on cotton production as the major source of export earnings and has come under increasing international criticism for the use of child labor in its annual cotton harvest. Other major export earners include gold, natural gas, and oil. Following independence in September 1991, the government sought to prop up its Soviet-style command economy with subsidies and tight controls on production and prices. While aware of the need to improve the investment climate, the government still sponsors measures that often increase, not decrease, its control over business decisions. A sharp increase in the inequality of income distribution has hurt the lower ranks of society since independence. In 2003, the government accepted Article VIII obligations under the IMF, providing for full currency convertibility. However, strict currency controls and tightening of borders have lessened the effects of convertibility and have also led to some shortages that have further stifled economic activity. The Central Bank often delays or restricts convertibility, especially for consumer goods. Potential investment by Russia and China in Uzbekistan's gas and oil industry, as well as increased cooperation with South Korea in the realm of civil aviation, may boost growth prospects. In November 2005, Russian President Vladimir PUTIN and Uzbekistan President KARIMOV signed an "alliance," which included provisions for economic and business cooperation. Russian businesses have shown increased interest in Uzbekistan, especially in mining, telecom, and oil and gas. In 2006, Uzbekistan took steps to rejoin the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and the Eurasian Economic Community (EurASEC), which it subsequently left in 2008, both organizations dominated by Russia. Uzbek authorities have accused US and other foreign companies operating in Uzbekistan of violating Uzbek tax laws and have frozen their assets.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$71.84 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 78 $65.91 billion (2007 est.)
$60.19 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$27.92 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
9% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 18 9.5% (2007 est.)
7.3% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,600 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 171 $2,400 (2007 est.)
$2,200 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 25.8%
industry: 31.4%
services: 42.8% (2008 est.)
Labor force:
15.37 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 37
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 44%
industry: 20%
services: 36% (1995)
Unemployment rate:
1% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 6 0.8% (2007 est.)
note: officially measured by the Ministry of Labor, plus another 20% underemployed
Population below poverty line:
33% (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.8%
highest 10%: 29.6% (2003)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
36.8 (2003) country comparison to the world: 80 44.7 (1998)
Budget:
revenues: $8.884 billion
expenditures: $8.474 billion (2008 est.)
Public debt:
10.4% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 111 41.5% of GDP (2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
14% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 185 12% (2007 est.)
note: official data; based on independent analysis of consumer prices, inflation reached 38% in 2008
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$NA (31 December 2007)
$715.3 million (31 December 2006)
Agriculture - products:
cotton, vegetables, fruits, grain; livestock
Industries:
textiles, food processing, machine building, metallurgy, gold, petroleum, natural gas, chemicals
Industrial production growth rate:
12.7% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 4
Electricity - production:
46.33 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 49
Electricity - consumption:
41.94 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 49
Electricity - exports:
11.44 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
11.36 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
83,820 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 54
Oil - consumption:
148,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 68
Oil - exports:
6,104 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 102
Oil - imports:
35,810 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 97
Oil - proved reserves:
594 million bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 45
Natural gas - production:
67.6 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 15
Natural gas - consumption:
52.6 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 15
Natural gas - exports:
15 billion cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 15
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 119
Natural gas - proved reserves:
1.841 trillion cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 18
Current account balance:
$6.257 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 31 $4.267 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
$10.37 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 85 $8.026 billion (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
cotton, gold, energy products, mineral fertilizers, ferrous and non-ferrous metals, textiles, food products, machinery, automobiles
Exports - partners:
Ukraine 27.3%, Russia 19.6%, Turkey 7.5%, Kazakhstan 5.9%,Bangladesh 5%, China 4.3%, Japan 4.1% (2008)
Imports:
$7.07 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 105 $5.73 billion (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, ferrous and non-ferrous metals
Imports - partners:
Russia 24.7%, China 15.4%, South Korea 13.6%, Ukraine 7.2%, Germany 5.5%, Kazakhstan 4.9%, Turkey 4.1% (2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$10.15 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 65 $7.413 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$4.022 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 111 $3.927 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
Exchange rates:
Uzbekistani soum (UZS) per US dollar - 1,317 (2008 est.), 1,263.8 (2007), 1,219.8 (2006), 1,020 (2005), 971.265 (2004)
Communications ::Uzbekistan
Telephones - main lines in use:
1.85 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 61
Telephones - mobile cellular:
12.734 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 49
Telephone system:
general assessment: antiquated and inadequate; in serious need of modernization
domestic: the main line telecommunications system is dilapidated and telephone density is low; the state-owned telecommunications company, Uzbektelecom, is using loans from the Japanese government and the China Development Bank to improve mainline services; completion of conversion to digital exchanges planned for 2010; mobile services are growing rapidly, with the subscriber base reaching 12.7 million in 2008
international: country code - 998; linked by fiber-optic cable or microwave radio relay with CIS member states and to other countries by leased connection via the Moscow international gateway switch; after the completion of the Uzbek link to the Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE) fiber-optic cable, Uzbekistan plans to establish a fiber-optic connection to Afghanistan (2008)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 4, FM 12, shortwave 3 (2008)
Television broadcast stations:
28 (includes 1 cable rebroadcaster in Tashkent and approximately 20 stations in regional capitals) (2006)
Internet country code:
.uz
Internet hosts:
50,228 (2009) country comparison to the world: 83
Internet users:
2.469 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 65
Transportation ::Uzbekistan
Airports:
54 (2009) country comparison to the world: 87
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 33
over 3,047 m: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 13
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 4 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 21
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
under 914 m: 19 (2009)
Pipelines:
gas 9,706 km; oil 868 km (2008)
Railways:
total: 3,645 km country comparison to the world: 47 broad gauge: 3,645 km 1.520-m gauge (620 km electrified) (2008)
Roadways:
total: 86,496 km country comparison to the world: 55 paved: 75,511 km
unpaved: 10,985 km (2000)
Waterways:
1,100 km (2008) country comparison to the world: 63
Ports and terminals:
Termiz (Amu Darya)
Military ::Uzbekistan
Military branches:
Army, Air and Air Defense Forces, National Guard
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for compulsory military service; 1-year conscript service obligation; moving toward a professional military, but conscription will continue; the military cannot accommodate everyone who wishes to enlist, and competition for entrance into the military is similar to the competition for admission to universities (2007)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 7,480,484
females age 16-49: 7,542,017 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 6,340,446
females age 16-49: 6,559,769 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 313,131
female: 310,442 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
2% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 81
Transnational Issues ::Uzbekistan
Disputes - international:
prolonged drought and cotton monoculture in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan creates water-sharing difficulties for Amu Darya river states; field demarcation of the boundaries with Kazakhstan commenced in 2004; border delimitation of 130 km of border with Kyrgyzstan is hampered by serious disputes around enclaves and other areas
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 39,202 (Tajikistan); 1,060 (Afghanistan)
IDPs: 3,400 (forced population transfers by government from villages near Tajikistan border) (2007)
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Uzbekistan is a source country for women and girls trafficked to Kazakhstan, Russia, Middle East, and Asia for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation; men are trafficked to Kazakhstan and Russia for purposes of forced labor in the construction, cotton, and tobacco industries; men and women are also trafficked internally for the purposes of domestic servitude, forced labor in the agricultural and construction industries, and for commercial sexual exploitation
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Uzbekistan is on the Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to combat severe forms of trafficking in 2007; the government did not amend its criminal code to increase penalties for convicted traffickers; in March 2008, Uzbekistan adopted ILO Conventions on minimum age of employment and on the elimination of the worst forms of child labor and is working with the ILO on implementation; the government also demonstrated its increasing commitment to combat trafficking in March 2008 by adopting a comprehensive anti-trafficking law; Uzbekistan has not ratified the 2000 UN TIP Protocol (2008)
Illicit drugs:
transit country for Afghan narcotics bound for Russian and, to a lesser extent, Western European markets; limited illicit cultivation of cannabis and small amounts of opium poppy for domestic consumption; poppy cultivation almost wiped out by government crop eradication program; transit point for heroin precursor chemicals bound for Afghanistan
page last updated on November 11, 2009
======================================================================
@Vanuatu (Australia-Oceania)
Introduction ::Vanuatu
Background:
Multiple waves of colonizers, each speaking a distinct language, migrated to the New Hebrides in the millennia preceding European exploration in the 18th century. This settlement pattern accounts for the complex linguistic diversity found on the archipelago to this day. The British and French, who settled the New Hebrides in the 19th century, agreed in 1906 to an Anglo-French Condominium, which administered the islands until independence in 1980, when the new name of Vanuatu was adopted.
Geography ::Vanuatu
Location:
Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Australia
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total: 12,189 sq km country comparison to the world: 163 land: 12,189 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes more than 80 islands, about 65 of which are inhabited
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Connecticut
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
2,528 km
Maritime claims:
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
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; moderated by southeast trade winds from May to October; moderate rainfall from November to April; may be affected by cyclones from December to April
Terrain:
mostly mountainous islands of volcanic origin; narrow coastal plains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Tabwemasana 1,877 m
Natural resources:
manganese, hardwood forests, fish
Land use:
arable land: 1.64%
permanent crops: 6.97%
other: 91.39% (2005)
Irrigated land:
Natural hazards:
tropical cyclones or typhoons (January to April); volcanic eruption on Aoba (Ambae) island began 27 November 2005, volcanism also causes minor earthquakes; tsunamis
Environment - current issues:
most of the population does not have access to a reliable supply of potable water; deforestation
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, ClimateChange, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection,Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 94
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
a Y-shaped chain of four main islands and 80 smaller islands; several of the islands have active volcanoes
People ::Vanuatu
Population:
218,519 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 185
Age structure:
0-14 years: 30.7% (male 34,263/female 32,833)
15-64 years: 65.3% (male 72,670/female 69,970)
65 years and over: 4% (male 4,516/female 4,267) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 24.2 years
male: 24.2 years
female: 24.2 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.398% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 95
Birth rate:
21.53 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 89
Death rate:
7.55 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 121
Net migration rate:
NA (2009 est.)
Urbanization:
urban population: 25% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 4.1% 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: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.06 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 49.45 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 51 male: 51.97 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 46.81 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 63.98 years country comparison to the world: 169 male: 62.37 years
female: 65.66 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.5 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 96
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Nationality:
noun: Ni-Vanuatu (singular and plural)
adjective: Ni-Vanuatu
Ethnic groups:
Ni-Vanuatu 98.5%, other 1.5% (1999 Census)
Religions:
Presbyterian 31.4%, Anglican 13.4%, Roman Catholic 13.1%, Seventh-Day Adventist 10.8%, other Christian 13.8%, indigenous beliefs 5.6% (including Jon Frum cargo cult), other 9.6%, none 1%, unspecified 1.3% (1999 Census)
Languages:
local languages (more than 100) 72.6%, pidgin (known as Bislama or Bichelama) 23.1%, English 1.9%, French 1.4%, other 0.3%, unspecified 0.7% (1999 Census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 74%
male: NA
female: NA (1999 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 10 years
male: 11 years
female: 10 years (2004)
Education expenditures:
9.5% of GDP (2003) country comparison to the world: 6
Government ::Vanuatu
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Vanuatu
conventional short form: Vanuatu
local long form: Ripablik blong Vanuatu
local short form: Vanuatu
former: New Hebrides
Government type:
parliamentary republic
Capital:
name: Port-Vila (on Efate)
geographic coordinates: 17 44 S, 168 19 E
time difference: UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
6 provinces; Malampa, Penama, Sanma, Shefa, Tafea, Torba
Independence:
30 July 1980 (from France and the UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 30 July (1980)
Constitution:
30 July 1980
Legal system:
unified system being created from former dual French and British systems; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Iolu Johnson ABIL (since 3 September 2009)
head of government: Prime Minister Edward NATAPEI (since 22 September 2008); Deputy Prime Minister Ham LINI (since 22 September 2008)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister, responsible to parliament
elections: president elected for a five-year term by an electoral college consisting of parliament and the presidents of the regional councils; election for president last held 2 September 2009 (next to be held in 2014); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition is usually elected prime minister by parliament from among its members; election for prime minister last held 22 September 2008 (next to be held following general elections in 2012)
election results: Iolu Johnson ABIL elected president, with 41 votes out of 58, on the third ballot on 2 September 2009
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament (52 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 2 September 2008 (next to be held in 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - VP 11, NUP 8, UMP 7, VRP 7, PPP 4, GC 2, MPP 1, NA 1, NAG 1, PAP 1, Shepherds Alliance 1, VFFP 1, VLP 1, VNP 1, VPRFP 1, and independent 4; note - political party associations are fluid
note: the National Council of Chiefs advises on matters of culture and language
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (chief justice is appointed by the president after consultation with the prime minister and the leader of the opposition, three other justices are appointed by the president on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission)