arable land: 2.65%
permanent crops: 0.23%
other: 97.12% (2005)
Irrigated land:
800 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
184 cu km (1987)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.35 cu km/yr (23%/17%/60%)
per capita: 22 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
locally heavy rainfall causes periodic flooding on the plateau
Environment - current issues:
overuse of pastures and subsequent soil erosion attributable to population pressures; desertification; deforestation of tropical rain forest, in response to both international demand for tropical timber and to domestic use as fuel, resulting in loss of biodiversity; soil erosion contributing to water pollution and siltation of rivers and dams; inadequate supplies of potable water
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
the province of Cabinda is an exclave, separated from the rest of the country by the Democratic Republic of the Congo
People ::Angola
Population:
12,799,293 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 69
Age structure:
0-14 years: 43.5% (male 2,812,359/female 2,759,047)
15-64 years: 53.7% (male 3,496,726/female 3,382,440)
65 years and over: 2.7% (male 153,678/female 195,043) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 18 years
male: 18 years
female: 18 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.095% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 51
Birth rate:
43.69 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 8
Death rate:
24.08 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 2
Net migration rate:
1.34 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 51
Urbanization:
urban population: 57% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 4.4% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 180.21 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 1 male: 192.24 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 167.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 38.2 years country comparison to the world: 223 male: 37.24 years
female: 39.22 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.12 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 10
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
2.1% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 29
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
190,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 32
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
11,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 27
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria, African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness)
water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Angolan(s)
adjective: Angolan
Ethnic groups:
Ovimbundu 37%, Kimbundu 25%, Bakongo 13%, mestico (mixed European and native African) 2%, European 1%, other 22%
Religions:
indigenous beliefs 47%, Roman Catholic 38%, Protestant 15% (1998 est.)
Languages:
Portuguese (official), Bantu and other African languages
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 67.4%
male: 82.9%
female: 54.2% (2001 est.)
Education expenditures:
2.4% of GDP (2005) country comparison to the world: 159
Government ::Angola
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Angola
conventional short form: Angola
local long form: Republica de Angola
local short form: Angola
former: People's Republic of Angola
Government type:
republic; multiparty presidential regime
Capital:
name: Luanda
geographic coordinates: 8 50 S, 13 14 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
18 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Bengo, Benguela,Bie, Cabinda, Cuando Cubango, Cuanza Norte, Cuanza Sul, Cunene,Huambo, Huila, Luanda, Lunda Norte, Lunda Sul, Malanje, Moxico,Namibe, Uige, Zaire
Independence:
11 November 1975 (from Portugal)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 11 November (1975)
Constitution:
adopted by People's Assembly 25 August 1992
Legal system:
based on Portuguese civil law system and customary law; modified to accommodate political pluralism and increased use of free markets; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS (since 21 September 1979); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS (since 21 September 1979); Antonio Paulo KASSOMA was named prime minister by MPLA on 26 September 2008
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by universal ballot for a five-year term (eligible for a second consecutive or discontinuous term) under the 1992 constitution; President DOS SANTOS was selected by the party to take over after the death of former President Augustino NETO(1979) under a one-party system and stood for reelection in Angola's first multiparty elections 29-30 September 1992 (next were to be held in September 2009 but have been postponed)
election results: Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS 49.6%, Jonas SAVIMBI 40.1%, making a run-off election necessary; the run-off was never held leaving DOS SANTOS in his current position as the president
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (220 seats; members elected by proportional vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 5-6 September 2008 (next to be held in September 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - MPLA 81.6%, UNITA 10.4%, PRS 3.2%, ND 1.2%, FNLA 1.1%, other 2.5%; seats by party - MPLA 191, UNITA 16, PRS 8, FNLA 3, ND 2
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court and separate provincial courts (judges are appointed by the president)
Political parties and leaders:
National Front for the Liberation of Angola or FNLA [Ngola KABANGU]; National Union for the Total Independence of Angola or UNITA (largest opposition party) [Isaias SAMAKUVA]; Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola or MPLA (ruling party in power since 1975) [Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS]; Social Renewal Party or PRS [Eduardo KUANGANA]
note: nine other parties participated in the legislative election in September but won no seats
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda or FLEC [N'zitaHenriques TIAGO, Antonio Bento BEMBE]
note: FLEC's small-scale armed struggle for the independence of Cabinda Province persists despite the signing of a peace accord with the government in August 2006
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, CPLP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory),ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU,ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer),OPEC, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU,WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Josefina Perpetua Pitra DIAKITE
chancery: 2108 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 785-1156
consulate(s) general: Houston, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Dan MOZENA
embassy: number 32 Rua Houari Boumedienne (in the Miramar area of Luanda), Luanda
mailing address: international mail: Caixa Postal 6468, Luanda; pouch: US Embassy Luanda, US Department of State, 2550 Luanda Place, Washington, DC 20521-2550
telephone: [244] (222) 64-1000
Flag description:
two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and black with a centered yellow emblem consisting of a five-pointed star within half a cogwheel crossed by a machete (in the style of a hammer and sickle); red represents liberty, black the African continent, the symbols characterize workers and peasants
Economy ::Angola
Economy - overview:
Angola's high growth rate is driven by its oil sector, which has taken advantage of high international oil prices. Oil production and its supporting activities contribute about 85% of GDP. Increased oil production supported growth averaging more than 15% per year from 2004 to 2007. A postwar reconstruction boom and resettlement of displaced persons has led to high rates of growth in construction and agriculture as well. Much of the country's infrastructure is still damaged or undeveloped from the 27-year-long civil war. Remnants of the conflict such as widespread land mines still mar the countryside even though an apparently durable peace was established after the death of rebel leader Jonas SAVIMBI in February 2002. Subsistence agriculture provides the main livelihood for most of the people, but half of the country's food must still be imported. In 2005, the government started using a $2 billion line of credit, since increased to $7 billion, from China to rebuild Angola's public infrastructure, and several large-scale projects were completed in 2006. Angola also has large credit lines from Brazil, Portugal, Germany, Spain, and the EU. The central bank in 2003 implemented an exchange rate stabilization program using foreign exchange reserves to buy kwanzas out of circulation. This policy became more sustainable in 2005 because of strong oil export earnings; it has significantly reduced inflation. Although consumer inflation declined from 325% in 2000 to under 13% in 2008, the stabilization policy has put pressure on international net liquidity. Angola became a member of OPEC in late 2006 and in late 2007 was assigned a production quota of 1.9 million barrels a day, somewhat less than the 2-2.5 million bbl Angola's government had wanted. To fully take advantage of its rich national resources - gold, diamonds, extensive forests, Atlantic fisheries, and large oil deposits - Angola will need to implement government reforms, increase transparency, and reduce corruption. The government has rejected a formal IMF monitored program, although it continues Article IV consultations and ad hoc cooperation. Corruption, especially in the extractive sectors, and the negative effects of large inflows of foreign exchange, are major challenges facing Angola.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$112.8 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 63 $100.5 billion (2007 est.)
$82.94 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$84.95 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
12.3% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 5 21.1% (2007 est.)
18.6% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$9,000 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 112 $8,200 (2007 est.)
$6,900 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 9.2%
industry: 65.8%
services: 24.6% (2008 est.)
Labor force:
7.569 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 58
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 85%
industry and services: 15% (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate:
Population below poverty line:
40.5% (2006 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Investment (gross fixed):
9% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 148
Budget:
revenues: $28.99 billion
expenditures: $21.44 billion (2008 est.)
Public debt:
15.5% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 103 12% of GDP (2007 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
12.5% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 173 12.2% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
19.57% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 8 19.57% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
12.53% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 25 17.7% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$8.446 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 47 $4.153 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$10.41 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 50 $7.216 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$7.893 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 76 $1.166 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
bananas, sugarcane, coffee, sisal, corn, cotton, manioc (tapioca), tobacco, vegetables, plantains; livestock; forest products; fish
Industries:
petroleum; diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, feldspar, bauxite, uranium, and gold; cement; basic metal products; fish processing; food processing, brewing, tobacco products, sugar; textiles; ship repair
Industrial production growth rate:
14.3% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 1
Electricity - production:
3.722 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 120
Electricity - consumption:
3.173 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 125
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
2.015 million bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 17
Oil - consumption:
64,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 90
Oil - exports:
1.407 million bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 18
Oil - imports:
28,090 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 103
Oil - proved reserves:
9.04 billion bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 18
Natural gas - production:
680 million cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 65
Natural gas - consumption:
680 million cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 92
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 204
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 203
Natural gas - proved reserves:
269.8 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 41
Current account balance:
$17.11 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 21 $9.402 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
$66.3 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 49 $44.4 billion (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
crude oil, diamonds, refined petroleum products, coffee, sisal, fish and fish products, timber, cotton
Exports - partners:
China 33%, US 28.7%, France 6%, South Africa 4.6%, Canada 4.1% (2008)
Imports:
$17.08 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 75 $13.66 billion (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and electrical equipment, vehicles and spare parts; medicines, food, textiles, military goods
Imports - partners:
Portugal 17.6%, China 15.7%, US 11.3%, Brazil 7.6%, South Korea 6.8%, South Africa 4.8% (2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$18.36 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 54 $11.2 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$14.09 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 78 $8.357 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$16.36 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 68 $14.51 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$2.477 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 62
Exchange rates:
kwanza (AOA) per US dollar - 75.023 (2008 est.), 76.6 (2007), 80.4 (2006), 88.6 (2005), 83.541 (2004)
Communications ::Angola
Telephones - main lines in use:
114,300 (2008) country comparison to the world: 141
Telephones - mobile cellular:
6.773 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 74
Telephone system:
general assessment: system inadequate; fewer than one fixed-line per 100 persons; combined fixed line and mobile telephone density exceeded 50 telephones per 100 persons in 2008
domestic: state-owned telecom had monopoly for fixed-lines until 2005; demand outstripped capacity, prices were high, and services poor; Telecom Namibia, through an Angolan company, became the first private licensed operator in Angola's fixed-line telephone network; Angola Telecom established mobile-cellular service in Luanda in 1993 and the network has been extended to larger towns; a privately-owned, mobile-cellular service provider began operations in 2001
international: country code - 244; landing point for the SAT-3/WASC fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and Asia; satellite earth stations - 29 (2008)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 21, FM 6, shortwave 7 (2001)
Television broadcast stations:
6 (2000)
Internet country code:
.ao
Internet hosts:
3,508 (2009) country comparison to the world: 139
Internet users:
550,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 105
Transportation ::Angola
Airports:
192 (2009) country comparison to the world: 32
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 30
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 12
914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 162
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 32
914 to 1,523 m: 78
under 914 m: 46 (2009)
Pipelines:
gas 2 km; oil 87 km (2008)
Railways:
total: 2,764 km country comparison to the world: 61 narrow gauge: 2,641 km 1.067-m gauge; 123 km 0.600-m gauge (2008)
Roadways:
total: 51,429 km country comparison to the world: 78 paved: 5,349 km
unpaved: 46,080 km (2001)
Waterways:
1,300 km (2008) country comparison to the world: 55
Merchant marine:
total: 6 country comparison to the world: 128 by type: cargo 1, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 1 (Spain 1)
registered in other countries: 6 (Bahamas 6) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Cabinda, Lobito, Luanda, Namibe
Military ::Angola
Military branches:
Angolan Armed Forces (FAA): Army, Navy (Marinha de Guerra Angola,MGA), Angolan National Air Force (Forca Aerea Nacional Angolana,FANA) (2009)
Military service age and obligation:
22-24 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 2 years; Angolan citizenship required (2009)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,856,492
females age 16-49: 2,755,864 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,467,833
females age 16-49: 1,411,468 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 146,738
female: 143,478 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
5.7% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 13
Transnational Issues ::Angola
Disputes - international:
Cabindan separatists continue to return to the Angolan exclave from exile in neighboring states and Europe since the 2006 ceasefire and peace agreement
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 12,615 (Democratic Republic of Congo)
IDPs: 61,700 (27-year civil war ending in 2002; 4 million IDPs already have returned) (2007)
Illicit drugs:
used as a transshipment point for cocaine destined for Western Europe and other African states, particularly South Africa
page last updated on November 11, 2009
======================================================================
@Anguilla (Central America and Caribbean)
Introduction ::Anguilla
Background:
Colonized by English settlers from Saint Kitts in 1650, Anguilla was administered by Great Britain until the early 19th century, when the island - against the wishes of the inhabitants - was incorporated into a single British dependency along with Saint Kitts and Nevis. Several attempts at separation failed. In 1971, two years after a revolt, Anguilla was finally allowed to secede; this arrangement was formally recognized in 1980 with Anguilla becoming a separate British dependency.
Geography ::Anguilla
Location:
Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and North AtlanticOcean, east of Puerto Rico
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 91 sq km country comparison to the world: 226 land: 91 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
about one-half the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
61 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 3 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds
Terrain:
flat and low-lying island of coral and limestone
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Crocus Hill 65 m
Natural resources:
salt, fish, lobster
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (mostly rock with sparse scrub oak, few trees, some commercial salt ponds) (2005)
Irrigated land:
Natural hazards:
frequent hurricanes and other tropical storms (July to October)
Environment - current issues:
supplies of potable water sometimes cannot meet increasing demand largely because of poor distribution system
Geography - note:
the most northerly of the Leeward Islands in the Lesser Antilles
People ::Anguilla
Population:
14,436 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 221
Age structure:
0-14 years: 24.5% (male 1,815/female 1,725)
15-64 years: 67.8% (male 4,665/female 5,125)
65 years and over: 7.7% (male 534/female 572) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 32.6 years
male: 31.5 years
female: 33.8 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.272% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 41
Birth rate:
13.02 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 157
Death rate:
4.36 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 204
Net migration rate:
14.06 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 6
Urbanization:
urban population: 100% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.4% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.93 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 3.52 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 215 male: 3.97 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.05 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 80.65 years country comparison to the world: 15 male: 78.11 years
female: 83.26 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.75 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 163
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Nationality:
noun: Anguillan(s)
adjective: Anguillan
Ethnic groups:
black (predominant) 90.1%, mixed, mulatto 4.6%, white 3.7%, other 1.5% (2001 census)
Religions:
Anglican 29%, Methodist 23.9%, other Protestant 30.2%, Roman Catholic 5.7%, other Christian 1.7%, other 5.2%, none or unspecified 4.3% (2001 census)
Languages:
English (official)
Literacy:
definition: age 12 and over can read and write
total population: 95%
male: 95%
female: 95% (1984 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 11 years
male: 11 years
female: 11 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
4% of GDP (2005) country comparison to the world: 101
Government ::Anguilla
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Anguilla
Dependency status:
overseas territory of the UK
Government type:
Capital:
name: The Valley
geographic coordinates: 18 13 N, 63 03 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Independence:
none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday:
Anguilla Day, 30 May (1967)
Constitution:
Anguilla Constitutional Order 1 April 1982; amended 1990
Legal system:
based on English common law
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Alistair HARRISON (since 21 April 2009)
head of government: Chief Minister Osbourne FLEMING (since 3 March 2000)
cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor from among the elected members of the House of Assembly
elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed chief minister by the governor
Legislative branch:
unicameral House of Assembly (11 seats; 7 members elected by direct popular vote, 2 ex officio members, and 2 appointed; members serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 21 February 2005 (next to be held in 2010)
election results: percent of vote by party - AUF 38.9%, AUM 19.4%, ANSA 19.2%, APP 9.5%, independents 13%; seats by party - AUF 4, ANSA 2, AUM 1
Judicial branch:
High Court (judge provided by Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court)
Political parties and leaders:
Anguilla United Front or AUF [Osbourne FLEMING, Victor BANKS] (acoalition of the Anguilla Democratic Party or ADP and the AnguillaNational Alliance or ANA); Anguilla United Movement or AUM [HubertHUGHES]; Anguilla Progressive Party or APP [Roy ROGERS]; AnguillaStrategic Alternative or ANSA [Edison BAIRD]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
International organization participation:
Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), OECS, UPU, WFTU
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Flag description:
blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Anguillan coat of arms centered in the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms depicts three orange dolphins in an interlocking circular design on a white background with blue wavy water below
Economy ::Anguilla
Economy - overview:
Anguilla has few natural resources, and the economy depends heavily on luxury tourism, offshore banking, lobster fishing, and remittances from emigrants. Increased activity in the tourism industry has spurred the growth of the construction sector contributing to economic growth. Anguillan officials have put substantial effort into developing the offshore financial sector, which is small but growing. In the medium term, prospects for the economy will depend largely on the tourism sector and, therefore, on revived income growth in the industrialized nations as well as on favorable weather conditions.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$108.9 million (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 219
GDP (official exchange rate):
$108.9 million (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
10.2% (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 10
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$8,800 (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 114
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 4%
industry: 18%
services: 78% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
6,049 (2001) country comparison to the world: 212
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture/fishing/forestry/mining 4%, manufacturing 3%, construction 18%, transportation and utilities 10%, commerce 36%, services 29% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:
8% (2002) country comparison to the world: 110
Population below poverty line:
23% (2002)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $22.8 million
expenditures: $22.5 million (2000 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5.3% (2006 est.) country comparison to the world: 88
Central bank discount rate:
6.5% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 58 6.5% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
9.51% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 87 9.76% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$21.12 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 119 $23.57 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$449.5 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 109 $470.1 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$529.6 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 115 $447.7 million (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
small quantities of tobacco, vegetables; cattle raising
Industries:
tourism, boat building, offshore financial services
Industrial production growth rate:
Electricity - production:
NA kWh
Current account balance:
-$42.87 million (2003 est.) country comparison to the world: 70
Exports:
$13 million (2006) country comparison to the world: 208
Exports - commodities:
lobster, fish, livestock, salt, concrete blocks, rum
Imports:
$143 million (2006) country comparison to the world: 202
Imports - commodities:
fuels, foodstuffs, manufactures, chemicals, trucks, textiles
Debt - external:
$8.8 million (1998) country comparison to the world: 199
Exchange rates:
East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar - 2.7 (2007), 2.7 (2006), 2.7 (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003)
note: fixed rate since 1976
Communications ::Anguilla
Telephones - main lines in use:
5,800 (2008) country comparison to the world: 211
Telephones - mobile cellular:
13,100 (2005) country comparison to the world: 210
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: modern internal telephone system
international: country code - 1-264; landing point for the East Caribbean Fiber System (ECFS) submarine cable with links to 13 other islands in the eastern Caribbean extending from the British Virgin Islands to Trinidad; microwave radio relay to island of Saint Martin (Guadeloupe and Netherlands Antilles) (2007)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2, FM 7, shortwave 0 (2004)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (1997)
Internet country code:
.ai
Internet hosts:
258 (2009) country comparison to the world: 181
Internet users:
4,500 (2008) country comparison to the world: 204
Transportation ::Anguilla
Airports:
3 (2009) country comparison to the world: 192
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2009)
Roadways:
total: 175 km country comparison to the world: 208 paved: 82 km
unpaved: 93 km (2004)
Ports and terminals:
Blowing Point, Road Bay
Military ::Anguilla
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 3,538 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,955
females age 16-49: 3,308 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 107
female: 106 (2009 est.)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues ::Anguilla
Disputes - international:
none
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe
page last updated on November 11, 2009
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@Antarctica (Antarctica)
Introduction ::Antarctica
Background:
Speculation over the existence of a "southern land" was not confirmed until the early 1820s when British and American commercial operators and British and Russian national expeditions began exploring the Antarctic Peninsula region and other areas south of the Antarctic Circle. Not until 1840 was it established that Antarctica was indeed a continent and not just a group of islands. Several exploration "firsts" were achieved in the early 20th century. Following World War II, there was an upsurge in scientific research on the continent. A number of countries have set up a range of year-round and seasonal stations, camps, and refuges to support scientific research in Antarctica. Seven have made territorial claims, but not all countries recognize these claims. In order to form a legal framework for the activities of nations on the continent, an Antarctic Treaty was negotiated that neither denies nor gives recognition to existing territorial claims; signed in 1959, it entered into force in 1961.
Geography ::Antarctica
Location:
continent mostly south of the Antarctic Circle
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Antarctic Region
Area:
total: 14 million sq km
land: 14 million sq km (280,000 sq km ice-free, 13.72 million sq km ice-covered) (est.)
note: fifth-largest continent, following Asia, Africa, North America, and South America, but larger than Australia and the subcontinent of Europe
Area - comparative:
slightly less than 1.5 times the size of the US
Land boundaries:
0 km
note: see entry on Disputes - international
Coastline:
17,968 km
Maritime claims:
Australia, Chile, and Argentina claim Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) rights or similar over 200 nm extensions seaward from their continental claims, but like the claims themselves, these zones are not accepted by other countries; 21 of 28 Antarctic consultative nations have made no claims to Antarctic territory (although Russia and the US have reserved the right to do so) and do not recognize the claims of the other nations; also see the Disputes - international entry
Climate:
severe low temperatures vary with latitude, elevation, and distance from the ocean; East Antarctica is colder than West Antarctica because of its higher elevation; Antarctic Peninsula has the most moderate climate; higher temperatures occur in January along the coast and average slightly below freezing
Terrain:
about 98% thick continental ice sheet and 2% barren rock, with average elevations between 2,000 and 4,000 meters; mountain ranges up to nearly 5,000 meters; ice-free coastal areas include parts of southern Victoria Land, Wilkes Land, the Antarctic Peninsula area, and parts of Ross Island on McMurdo Sound; glaciers form ice shelves along about half of the coastline, and floating ice shelves constitute 11% of the area of the continent
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Bentley Subglacial Trench -2,540 m
highest point: Vinson Massif 4,897 m