Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
19.3 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical
Terrain:
atoll of three low coral islands, Peale, Wake, and Wilkes, built up on an underwater volcano; central lagoon is former crater, islands are part of the rim
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 6 m
Natural resources:
none
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2005)
Irrigated land:
0 sq km
Natural hazards:
occasional typhoons
Environment - current issues:
Geography - note:
strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean; emergency landing location for transpacific flights
People ::Wake Island
Population:
no indigenous inhabitants
note: since super typhoon IOKE, a small military contingent along with 75 contractor personnel have returned to the island to conduct clean-up and restore basic operations on the island (July 2008 est.)
Government ::Wake Island
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Wake Island
Dependency status:
unorganized, unincorporated territory of the US; administered from Washington, DC, by the Department of the Interior; activities in the atoll are currently conducted by the US Air Force
Legal system:
the laws of the US, where applicable, apply
Flag description:
the flag of the US is used
Economy ::Wake Island
Economy - overview:
Economic activity is limited to providing services to military personnel and contractors located on the island. All food and manufactured goods must be imported.
Electricity - production:
NA kWh
Communications ::Wake Island
Telephone system:
general assessment: satellite communications; 2 DSN circuits off the Overseas Telephone System (OTS)
domestic: NA
international: NA
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 0, FM 0, shortwave 0 (American Armed Forces Radio and TelevisionService (AFRTS)) provides satellite radio service (2005)
Television broadcast stations:
0 (2005)
Transportation ::Wake Island
Airports:
1 (2009) country comparison to the world: 213
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2009)
Ports and terminals:
none; two offshore anchorages for large ships
Transportation - note:
there are no commercial or civilian flights to and from Wake Island, except in direct support of island missions; emergency landing is available
Military ::Wake Island
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the US; the US Air Force is responsible for overall administration and operation of the island; the launch support facility is administered by the US Missile Defense Agency (MDA)
Transnational Issues ::Wake Island
Disputes - international:
claimed by Marshall Islands
page last updated on September 22, 2009
======================================================================
@Wallis and Futuna (Australia-Oceania)
Introduction ::Wallis and Futuna
Background:
The Futuna island group was discovered by the Dutch in 1616 and Wallis by the British in 1767, but it was the French who declared a protectorate over the islands in 1842. In 1959, the inhabitants of the islands voted to become a French overseas territory.
Geography ::Wallis and Futuna
Location:
Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Oceania
Area:
total: 142 sq km country comparison to the world: 220 land: 142 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes Ile Uvea (Wallis Island), Ile Futuna (Futuna Island), Ile Alofi, and 20 islets
Area - comparative:
1.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
129 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical; hot, rainy season (November to April); cool, dry season (May to October); rains 2,500-3,000 mm per year (80% humidity); average temperature 26.6 degrees C
Terrain:
volcanic origin; low hills
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Singavi (on Futuna) 765 m
Natural resources:
Land use:
arable land: 7.14%
permanent crops: 35.71%
other: 57.15% (2005)
Irrigated land:
Natural hazards:
Environment - current issues:
deforestation (only small portions of the original forests remain) largely as a result of the continued use of wood as the main fuel source; as a consequence of cutting down the forests, the mountainous terrain of Futuna is particularly prone to erosion; there are no permanent settlements on Alofi because of the lack of natural fresh water resources
Geography - note:
both island groups have fringing reefs
People ::Wallis and Futuna
Population:
15,289 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 220
Age structure:
0-14 years: 26.7% (male 2,141/female 1,935)
15-64 years: 66.3% (male 5,069/female 5,065)
65 years and over: 7.1% (male 488/female 591) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 27.2 years
male: 26.1 years
female: 28.5 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.347% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 169
Birth rate:
Death rate:
Net migration rate:
-6.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population country comparison to the world: 169 note: there has been steady emigration from Wallis and Futuna to New Caledonia (2009 est.)
Urbanization:
urban population: 0% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.11 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 5.02 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 190 male: 5.27 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.75 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.2 years country comparison to the world: 49 male: 75.22 years
female: 81.32 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.87 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 148
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Nationality:
noun: Wallisian(s), Futunan(s), or Wallis and Futuna Islanders
adjective: Wallisian, Futunan, or Wallis and Futuna Islander
Ethnic groups:
Polynesian
Religions:
Roman Catholic 99%, other 1%
Languages:
Wallisian 58.9% (indigenous Polynesian language), Futunian 30.1%,French 10.8%, other 0.2% (2003 census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 50%
male: 50%
female: 50% (1969 est.)
Government ::Wallis and Futuna
Country name:
conventional long form: Territory of the Wallis and Futuna Islands
conventional short form: Wallis and Futuna
local long form: Territoire des Iles Wallis et Futuna
local short form: Wallis et Futuna
Dependency status:
overseas territory of France
Government type:
Capital:
name: Mata-Utu (on Ile Uvea)
geographic coordinates: 13 57 S, 171 56 W
time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
none (overseas territory of France); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are three kingdoms at the second order named Alo, Sigave, Wallis
Independence:
none (overseas territory of France)
National holiday:
Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
Constitution:
4 October 1958 (French Constitution)
Legal system:
the laws of France, where applicable, apply
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Nicolas SARKOZY (since 16 May 2007); represented by High Administrator Philippe PAOLANTONI (since 28 July 2008)
head of government: President of the Territorial Assembly Pesamino TAPUTAI (since 11 April 2007)
cabinet: Council of the Territory consists of 3 kings and 3 members appointed by the high administrator on the advice of the Territorial Assembly
note: there are 3 traditional kings with limited powers
elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; high administrator appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of the Interior; the presidents of the Territorial Government and the Territorial Assembly are elected by the members of the assembly
Legislative branch:
unicameral Territorial Assembly or Assemblee Territoriale (20 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 1 April 2007 (next to be held April 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UMP 13, other 7
note: Wallis and Futuna elects one senator to the French Senate and one deputy to the French National Assembly; French Senate - elections last held 21 September 2008 (next to be held by September 2014); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats - UMP 1; French National Assembly - elections last held 17 June 2007 (next to be held by 2012); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats - PS 1
Judicial branch:
justice generally administered under French law by the high administrator, but the three traditional kings administer customary law and there is a magistrate in Mata-Utu; a court of appeal is located in Noumea, New Caledonia
Political parties and leaders:
Lua Kae Tahi (Giscardians); Mouvement des Radicaux de Gauche or MRG;Rally for the Republic or RPR (UMP) [Clovis LOGOLOGOFOLAU];Socialist Party or PS; Taumu'a Lelei [Soane Muni UHILA]; UnionPopulaire Locale or UPL [Falakiko GATA]; Union Pour la DemocratieFrancaise or UDF
Political pressure groups and leaders:
International organization participation:
PIF (observer), SPC, UPU, WFTU
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (overseas territory of France)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (overseas territory of France)
Flag description:
unofficial, local flag has a red field with four white isosceles triangles in the middle, representing the three native kings of the islands and the French administrator; the apexes of the triangles are oriented inward and at right angles to each other; the flag of France, outlined in white on two sides, is in the upper hoist quadrant
note: the flag of France used for official occasions
Economy ::Wallis and Futuna
Economy - overview:
The economy is limited to traditional subsistence agriculture, with about 80% of labor force earnings from agriculture (coconuts and vegetables), livestock (mostly pigs), and fishing. About 4% of the population is employed in government. Revenues come from French Government subsidies, licensing of fishing rights to Japan and South Korea, import taxes, and remittances from expatriate workers in New Caledonia.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$60 million (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 222
GDP (official exchange rate):
GDP - real growth rate:
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$3,800 (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 158
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Labor force:
3,104 (2003) country comparison to the world: 216
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 80%
industry: 4%
services: 16% (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate:
15.2% (2003) country comparison to the world: 156
Population below poverty line:
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $29,730
expenditures: $31,330 (2004)
Public debt:
5.6% of GDP (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 119
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.8% (2005) country comparison to the world: 33
Agriculture - products:
breadfruit, yams, taro, bananas; pigs, goats; fish
Industries:
copra, handicrafts, fishing, lumber
Industrial production growth rate:
Electricity - production:
NA kWh
Electricity - consumption:
NA kWh
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2002)
Exports:
$47,450 (2004) country comparison to the world: 222
Exports - commodities:
copra, chemicals, construction materials
Imports:
$61.17 million (2004) country comparison to the world: 213
Imports - commodities:
chemicals, machinery, passenger ships, consumer goods
Debt - external:
$3.67 million (2004) country comparison to the world: 200
Exchange rates:
Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per US dollar - 87.59 (2007), 94.97 (2006), 95.89 (2005), 96.04 (2004), 105.66 (2003)
Communications ::Wallis and Futuna
Telephones - main lines in use:
2,700 (2008) country comparison to the world: 219
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: country code - 681
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0 (2000)
Television broadcast stations:
2 (2000)
Internet country code:
.wf
Internet hosts:
1,480 (2009) country comparison to the world: 154
Internet users:
1,200 (2008) country comparison to the world: 212
Transportation ::Wallis and Futuna
Airports:
2 (2009) country comparison to the world: 203
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2009)
Merchant marine:
total: 8 country comparison to the world: 122 by type: chemical tanker 2, passenger 6
foreign-owned: 8 (France 6, French Polynesia 2) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Leava, Mata-Utu
Military ::Wallis and Futuna
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 3,273
females age 16-49: 3,297 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 175
female: 164 (2009 est.)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues ::Wallis and Futuna
Disputes - international:
none
page last updated on October 28, 2009
======================================================================
@West Bank (Middle East)
Introduction ::West Bank
Background:
The September 1993 Israel-PLO Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements provided for a transitional period of Palestinian self-rule in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Under a series of agreements signed between May 1994 and September 1999, Israel transferred to the Palestinian Authority (PA) security and civilian responsibility for Palestinian-populated areas of the West Bank and Gaza. Negotiations to determine the permanent status of the West Bank and Gaza stalled following the outbreak of an intifada in September 2000, as Israeli forces reoccupied most Palestinian-controlled areas. In April 2003, the Quartet (US, EU, UN, and Russia) presented a roadmap to a final settlement of the conflict by 2005 based on reciprocal steps by the two parties leading to two states, Israel and a democratic Palestine. The proposed date for a permanent status agreement was postponed indefinitely due to violence and accusations that both sides had not followed through on their commitments. Following Palestinian leader Yasir ARAFAT's death in late 2004, Mahmud ABBAS was elected PA president in January 2005. A month later, Israel and the PA agreed to the Sharm el-Sheikh Commitments in an effort to move the peace process forward. In September 2005, Israel unilaterally withdrew all its settlers and soldiers and dismantled its military facilities in the Gaza Strip and withdrew settlers and redeployed soldiers from four small northern West Bank settlements. Nonetheless, Israel controls maritime, airspace, and most access to the Gaza Strip. A November 2005 PA-Israeli agreement authorized the reopening of the Rafah border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt under joint PA and Egyptian control. In January 2006, the Islamic Resistance Movement, HAMAS, won control of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC). The international community refused to accept the HAMAS-led government because it did not recognize Israel, would not renounce violence, and refused to honor previous peace agreements between Israel and the PA. HAMAS took control of the PA government in March 2006, but President ABBAS had little success negotiating with HAMAS to present a political platform acceptable to the international community so as to lift economic sanctions on Palestinians. The PLC was unable to convene throughout most of 2006 as a result of Israel's detention of many HAMAS PLC members and Israeli-imposed travel restrictions on other PLC members. Violent clashes took place between Fatah and HAMAS supporters in the Gaza Strip in 2006 and early 2007, resulting in numerous Palestinian deaths and injuries. ABBAS and HAMAS Political Bureau Chief MISHAL in February 2007 signed the Mecca Agreement in Saudi Arabia that resulted in the formation of a Palestinian National Unity Government (NUG) headed by HAMAS member Ismail HANIYA. However, fighting continued in the Gaza Strip, and in June 2007, HAMAS militants succeeded in a violent takeover of all military and governmental institutions in the Gaza Strip. ABBAS dismissed the NUG and through a series of presidential decrees formed a PA government in the West Bank led by independent Salam FAYYAD. HAMAS rejected the NUG's dismissal and has called for resuming talks with Fatah, but ABBAS has ruled out negotiations until HAMAS agrees to a return of PA control over the Gaza Strip and recognizes the FAYYAD-led government. FAYYAD and his PA government initiated a series of security and economic reforms to improve conditions in the West Bank. ABBAS participated in talks with Israel's Prime Minister OLMERT and secured the release of some Palestinian prisoners and previously withheld customs revenue. During a November 2007 international meeting in Annapolis Maryland, ABBAS and OLMERT agreed to resume peace negotiations with the goal of reaching a final peace settlement.
Geography ::West Bank
Location:
Middle East, west of Jordan
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Middle East
Area:
total: 5,860 sq km country comparison to the world: 171 land: 5,640 sq km
water: 220 sq km
note: includes West Bank, Latrun Salient, and the northwest quarter of the Dead Sea, but excludes Mt. Scopus; East Jerusalem and Jerusalem No Man's Land are also included only as a means of depicting the entire area occupied by Israel in 1967
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Delaware
Land boundaries:
total: 404 km
border countries: Israel 307 km, Jordan 97 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
temperate; temperature and precipitation vary with altitude, warm to hot summers, cool to mild winters
Terrain:
mostly rugged dissected upland, some vegetation in west, but barren in east
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Dead Sea -408 m
highest point: Tall Asur 1,022 m
Natural resources:
arable land
Land use:
arable land: 16.9%
permanent crops: 18.97%
other: 64.13% (2001)
Irrigated land:
150 sq km; note - includes Gaza Strip (2003)
Natural hazards:
droughts
Environment - current issues:
adequacy of fresh water supply; sewage treatment
Geography - note:
landlocked; highlands are main recharge area for Israel's coastal aquifers; there are about 340 Israeli civilian sites - including 100 small outpost communities in the West Bank and 29 sites in East Jerusalem (July 2008 est.)
People ::West Bank
Population:
2,461,267 country comparison to the world: 140 note: in addition, there are about 187,000 Israeli settlers in the West Bank and fewer than 177,000 in East Jerusalem (July 2009 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 37.3% (male 470,735/female 446,878)
15-64 years: 59.1% (male 744,822/female 708,695)
65 years and over: 3.7% (male 37,471/female 52,666) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 20.5 years
male: 20.4 years
female: 20.8 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.178% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 45
Birth rate:
25.44 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 68
Death rate:
3.66 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 210
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 81
Urbanization:
urban population: 72% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 3.3% 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: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 15.96 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 123 male: 17.87 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 13.93 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.54 years country comparison to the world: 89 male: 72.54 years
female: 76.65 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.22 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 65
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Nationality:
noun: NA
adjective: NA
Ethnic groups:
Palestinian Arab and other 83%, Jewish 17%
Religions:
Muslim 75% (predominantly Sunni), Jewish 17%, Christian and other 8%
Languages:
Arabic, Hebrew (spoken by Israeli settlers and many Palestinians),English (widely understood)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.4%
male: 96.7%
female: 88% (2004 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 14 years
male: 13 years
female: 14 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
Government ::West Bank
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: West Bank
Economy ::West Bank
Economy - overview:
The West Bank - the larger of the two areas comprising the Palestinian Authority (PA) - has experienced a general decline in economic conditions since the second intifada began in September 2000. The downturn has been largely a result of Israeli closure policies - the imposition of closures and access restrictions in response to security concerns in Israel - which disrupted labor and trading relationships. In 2001, and even more severely in 2002, Israeli military measures in PA areas resulted in the destruction of capital, the disruption of administrative structures, and widespread business closures. International aid of at least $1.14 billion to the West Bank and Gaza Strip in 2004 prevented the complete collapse of the economy and allowed some reforms in the government's financial operations. In 2005, high unemployment and limited trade opportunities - due to continued closures both within the West Bank and externally - stymied growth. Israel's and the international community's financial embargo of the PA when HAMAS ran the PA during March 2006 - June 2007 interrupted the provision of PA social services and the payment of PA salaries. Since then the FAYYAD government in the West Bank has restarted salary payments and the provision of services but would be unable to operate absent high levels of international assistance.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$11.95 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 142 note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$6.641 billion (2008 est.) (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
0.8% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 185
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,900 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 166 note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 8%
industry: 13%
services: 79% (includes Gaza Strip) (2007 est.)
Labor force:
605,000 (2006) country comparison to the world: 149
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 17%
industry: 15%
services: 68% (June 2008)
Unemployment rate:
16.3% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 158 18.6% (2006)
Population below poverty line:
46% (2007 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $1.149 billion
expenditures: $2.31 billion
note: includes Gaza Strip (2006)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
11.5% (2008) country comparison to the world: 166 3.6% (2006)
note: data in include Gaza Strip
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
7.19% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 111 7.73% (31 December 2006)
Stock of money:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$1.574 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$5.251 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 69 $3.048 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$1.367 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 101 $368.2 million (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 94 $2.475 billion (31 December 2007)
$2.729 billion (31 December 2006)
Agriculture - products:
olives, citrus, vegetables; beef, dairy products
Industries:
cement, quarrying, textiles, soap, olive-wood carvings, and mother-of-pearl souvenirs; the Israelis have established some small-scale, modern industries in the settlements and industrial centers
Industrial production growth rate:
2.4% (includes Gaza Strip) (2005) country comparison to the world: 96
Electricity - production:
500 million kWh; note - most electricity imported from Israel; East Jerusalem Electric Company buys and distributes electricity to Palestinians in East Jerusalem and its concession in the West Bank; the Israel Electric Company directly supplies electricity to most Jewish residents and military facilities; some Palestinian municipalities, such as Nablus and Janin, generate their own electricity from small power plants country comparison to the world: 160
Electricity - consumption:
3.265 billion kWh country comparison to the world: 121
Electricity - imports:
2.8 billion kWh
Oil - proved reserves:
NA bbl
Exports:
$339 million (2006) country comparison to the world: 172 $301 million (2005)
note: includes Gaza Strip
Exports - commodities:
olives, fruit, vegetables, limestone
Imports:
$1.3 billion (2006) country comparison to the world: 165 $2.44 billion (2005)
Imports - commodities:
food, consumer goods, construction materials
Debt - external:
$1.3 billion (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 149
Exchange rates:
new Israeli shekels (ILS) per US dollar - 3.56 (2008 est.), 4.14 (2007), 4.4565 (2006), 4.4877 (2005), 4.482 (2004)
Communications ::West Bank
Telephones - main lines in use:
348,000 (includes Gaza Strip) (2008) country comparison to the world: 111
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1.153 million (includes Gaza Strip) (2008) country comparison to the world: 140
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: Israeli company BEZEK and the Palestinian company PALTEL are responsible for fixed line services; the Palestinian JAWAL company provides cellular services
international: country code - 970 (2004)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 0, FM 25, shortwave 0 (2008)
Television broadcast stations:
30 (2008)
Internet country code:
.ps; note - same as Gaza Strip
Internet users:
356,000 (includes Gaza Strip) (2008) country comparison to the world: 118
Transportation ::West Bank
Airports:
2 (2009) country comparison to the world: 204
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2009)
Roadways:
total: 5,147 km country comparison to the world: 153 paved: 5,147 km
note: includes Gaza Strip (2006)
Military ::West Bank
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 545,653
females age 16-49: 515,102 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 30,233
female: 28,745 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
Transnational Issues ::West Bank
Disputes - international:
West Bank and Gaza Strip are Israeli-occupied with current status subject to the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement - permanent status to be determined through further negotiation; Israel continues construction of a "seam line" separation barrier along parts of the Green Line and within the West Bank; Israel withdrew from four settlements in the northern West Bank in August 2005; since 1948, about 350 peacekeepers from the UN Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO), headquartered in Jerusalem, monitor ceasefires, supervise armistice agreements, prevent isolated incidents from escalating, and assist other UN personnel in the region
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 722,000 (Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA)) (2007)
page last updated on November 3, 2009
======================================================================
@Western Sahara (Africa)
Introduction ::Western Sahara
Background:
Morocco virtually annexed the northern two-thirds of Western Sahara (formerly Spanish Sahara) in 1976, and claimed the rest of the territory in 1979, following Mauritania's withdrawal. A guerrilla war with the Polisario Front contesting Rabat's sovereignty ended in a 1991 UN-brokered cease-fire; a UN-organized referendum on the territory's final status has been repeatedly postponed. In April 2007, Morocco presented an autonomy plan for the territory to the UN, which the U.S. considers serious and credible. The Polisario also presented a plan to the UN in 2007 that called for independence. Representatives from the Government of Morocco and the Polisario Front have met four times since June 2007 to negotiate the status of Western Sahara, but talks have stalled since the UN envoy to the territory stated in April 2008 that independence is unrealistic.
Geography ::Western Sahara
Location:
Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, betweenMauritania and Morocco
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 266,000 sq km country comparison to the world: 77 land: 266,000 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
about the size of Colorado
Land boundaries:
total: 2,046 km
border countries: Algeria 42 km, Mauritania 1,561 km, Morocco 443 km
Coastline:
1,110 km
Maritime claims:
contingent upon resolution of sovereignty issue
Climate:
hot, dry desert; rain is rare; cold offshore air currents produce fog and heavy dew
Terrain:
mostly low, flat desert with large areas of rocky or sandy surfaces rising to small mountains in south and northeast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Sebjet Tah -55 m
highest point: unnamed elevation 805 m
Natural resources:
phosphates, iron ore
Land use:
arable land: 0.02%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 99.98% (2005)
Irrigated land:
Natural hazards:
hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind can occur during winter and spring; widespread harmattan haze exists 60% of time, often severely restricting visibility
Environment - current issues:
sparse water and lack of arable land
Environment - international agreements:
party to: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
the waters off the coast are particularly rich fishing areas
People ::Western Sahara
Population:
405,210 country comparison to the world: 172 note: estimate is based on projections by age, sex, fertility, mortality, and migration; fertility and mortality are based on data from neighboring countries (July 2009 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 44.9% (male 92,428/female 89,570)
15-64 years: 52.8% (male 105,191/female 108,803)
65 years and over: 2.3% (male 3,881/female 5,337) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 17.3 years
male: 16.8 years
female: 17.8 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.829% NA (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 15
Birth rate:
39.54 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 19
Death rate:
11.49 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 44
Urbanization:
urban population: 81% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 4% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 69.66 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 25 male: 69.84 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 69.47 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 54.32 years country comparison to the world: 195 male: 52 years
female: 56.73 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
NA 5.61 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 15
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: